Ultraschall Med 2007; 28 - P_11_1
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989089

Time intensity curves – reliability and possible sources of errors

A Ignee 1, M Jedrzejcyk 2, W Jakubowski 2, G Schuessler 1, CF Dietrich 1
  • 1Caritas Hospital, Medical Department 2, Bad Mergentheim, Germany
  • 2Medical University, 2nd Division of Medical Faculty, Department of Imaging Diagnostics, Warsaw, Poland

Aims: Time intensity curves (TIC) can be used to analyse focal and diffuse diseases of the liver, the kidney, the breast and other organs. In contrast to ordinary contrast investigations quantitative parameters like time to peak (TTP), mean transit time (MTT), area under the curve (AUC), peak intensity (PI) and others can be acquired which suggests objectivity. So it is necessary to analyse features that possibly affect the reliability of this method.

Methods: Analysis of the literature and 30 cases of liver, kidney, bowel and pancreas lesions to determine the effect of e.g. the design, the size and the position of the region of interest (ROI) on TIC variables.

Results: TIC parameters vary significantly due to ROI design and position. We discuss certain influencing factors, e.g. the shadowing effect and the phantom enhancement and assess the effect on the resulting values.

Discussion: Despite the objective character of time intensity variables there are certain chances for variability due to ROI design and position. A standard procedure will be suggested to minimise the influence of subjective factors.