Measurement of acoustic backscatter and attenuation in the liver of dogs with experimentally induced steroid hepatopathy

Robert T. O'Brien, James A. Zagzebski, Zheng Feng Lu, Howard Steinberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective - To determine the usefulness of a new method of measuring acoustic backscatter and attenuation in the liver of dogs with experimental steroid-induced hepatopathy. Animals - 10 clinically normal dogs. Procedure - Steroid hepatopathy was induced by daily injections of prednisone (2 mg/kg of body weight, IM). Dogs were evaluated histologically and were sonographically imaged on days 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14. Acoustic backscatter and attenuation were measured from in vivo images of dogs, using a video signal method, and compared with results obtained from analysis of the unprocessed radio frequency signal. Results - Histologic evaluation revealed midzonal, predominantly water-filled vacuoles in hepatocytes by day 7, which persisted for the remainder of the study and significantly (P = 0.0001) increased liver weight on day 14. Attenuation and backscatter increased during the experimental period. Mean effective attenuation difference was higher (P = 0.015) in the liver imaged through a left paraxyphoid window in experimental dogs by day 3. Significantly (P < 0.05) greater attenuation persisted in the liver of experimental dogs throughout the experimental period. Mean backscatter ratio was significantly increased (P = 0.02) by day 10. Uncorrected pixel intensity of the liver in 2 experimental dogs was approximately equal to that of the spleen on day 10 and greater than that of the spleen on day 14. Conclusion - Administration of prednisone to dogs results in increased acoustic backscatter and attenuation in the liver. Clinical Relevance - The video signal method is a sensitive technique for detecting subtle acoustic changes in the liver of dogs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1690-1694
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican journal of veterinary research
Volume57
Issue number12
StatePublished - Dec 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Veterinary

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