An ex vivo human lung model for ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy using lung flooding

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2014 Mar;40(3):496-503. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2013.11.007. Epub 2014 Jan 10.

Abstract

The usability of an ex vivo human lung model for ablation of lung cancer tissue with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is described. Lung lobes were flooded with saline, with no gas remaining after complete atelectasis. The tumor was delineated sono-morphologically. Speed of sound, tissue density and ultrasound attenuation were measured for flooded lung and different pulmonary cancer tissues. The acoustic impedance of lung cancer tissue (1.6-1.9 mega-Rayleighs) was higher than that of water, as was its attenuation coefficient (0.31-0.44 dB/cm/MHz) compared with that of the flooded lung (0.12 dB/cm/MHz). After application of HIFU, the temperature in centrally located lung cancer surrounded by the flooded lung increased as high as 80°C, which is sufficient for treatment. On the basis of these preliminary results, ultrasound-guided HIFU ablation of lung cancer, by lung flooding with saline, appears feasible and should be explored in future clinical studies.

Keywords: Acoustic properties; High-intensity focused ultrasound; Lung flooding; Lung sonography; Non-small cell lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage / methods*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / methods*
  • Human Experimentation
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organ Culture Techniques / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sodium Chloride / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional / methods

Substances

  • Sodium Chloride