Parametric detection and measurement of perfusion defects in attenuated contrast echocardiographic images.

OBJECTIVE: Attenuation of radio frequency (RF) signals limits the use of contrast echocardiography. The harmonic-to-fundamental ratio (HFR) of the RF signals compensates for attenuation. We tested whether HFR analysis measures the left ventricular nonperfused area under simulated experimental attenuation. METHODS: Radio frequency image data from short axis systolic projections were obtained from 11 open-chest dogs with left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary artery occlusion followed by left atrial bolus injection of a perflutren microbubble contrast agent. Clinical attenuation was simulated by calibrated silicone pads interposed between the epicardial surface and the transducer to induce mild (7-dB) and severe (14-dB) reduction of the backscattered RF signals. Harmonic-to-fundamental ratio values were calculated for each image pixel for 0-, 7-, and 14-dB attenuation conditions and reproducibly showed a "perfused area" and a "nonperfused area." A reference nonperfused area was obtained by manual delineation in high-quality contrast scans. RESULTS: Correlations of the HFR-detected and manually outlined perfusion defect areas were R = 0.92 for 0 dB, R = 0.94 for 7 dB, and R = 0.90 for 14 dB; the mean difference was less than 0.36 cm(2) (negligible) in all 3 attenuation settings. Conclusions. Attenuation compensation by our HFR method allows precise measurement of myocardial perfusion defect areas in contrast scans with simulated high level of attenuation.