Background: The revascularization process of the femoral head in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease has not been well studied on Doppler images. We incorporated two relatively new developments in ultrasound: 3D power Doppler imaging combined with the use of contrast agents.
Patients and methods: We studied two children with unilateral Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease through anterior-sagittal approaches with pre- and post-contrast power Doppler images, acquired in 2D and 3D planes.
Results: In one patient, intraosseous vessels were detected only in the pathological femoral head both pre- and post-contrast administration. In the other, no flow was identifiable without the use of contrasts.
Conclusion: The use of ultrasound contrast agents combined with 3D imaging modalities offers new alternative methods for visualization of intraosseous vascularity.