Elastographic Evaluation of the Temporal Formation of Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Lesions

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal formation of ethanol-induced hepatic lesions using ultrasound elastography. METHODS: An in vitro porcine liver was used as the specimen, and 4 lesions were created by injection of 2 mL of ethanol. After the ethanol injection, freehand elastography of the lesion from an identical scan plane was obtained during a time series (with an interval of approximately 30 seconds in the first 2 minutes and 1 minute afterward) using a real-time ultrasound scanner. The area of the lesion in the elastographic sequences was calculated to depict the temporal formation of the lesion. RESULTS: The ethanol-induced lesion on elastography appeared as a low-strain region whose boundary was clear and irregular. The elastographic sequences obtained after the ethanol injection showed that the lesion formed quickly in the first 2 minutes and then changed little in shape. The area of the lesion grew notably in the first 2 minutes after ethanol injection, and then it reached a plateau of about 0.7 cm(2). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound elastography is capable of monitoring the temporal formation of ethanol-induced lesions and is a potential imaging modality to evaluate the response of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy.