Detection and characterization of murine colitis and carcinogenesis by molecularly targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Figure 2 Contrast-enhanced ultrasound accurately detects dextran sodium-sulfate-induced colitis. A: Native ultrasound of the murine colon visualizing the bowel wall stratification. Thickness of the wall was measured in triplicate. Colon filled with ultrasound contact gel for improved testing conditions; B: Colonic wall thicknesses correlate with exposure to DSS in a time-dependent manner. DSS treatment led to a loss of sonographic bowel wall stratification (not shown). Data are means ± SD, n =10 for each group, ^aP < 0.05; C: Linear regression between parameters thickness of colon wall and histological Dieleman score shows a significant correlation as indicated by determination coefficient r² = 0.86; D: Time to peak flow depicting start of contrast agent application until maximal pixel contrast intensity in seconds. Time to peak flow correlates with exposure to DSS in a time-dependent manner. Data are mean ± SD, n = 10 for each group, ^cP < 0.01.