Effect of ultrasound on development. Part 1: Introduction and studies in inframammalian species. Report of the bioeffects committee of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Abstract

This report reviews and establishes patterns from the literature on experimental ultrasound exposures of inframammalian embryos and prenatal laboratory mammals. Exposure to ultrasound can produce adverse affects on development, and the sensitivity and responses of the test systems vary with the stage of development. Generally, however, deleterious effects are demonstrable only with exposure parameters that far exceed those used in clinical practice, and the few reports of mammalian embryotoxicity under clinically relevant exposure conditions have not been repeatable. Although it may be impossible to unequivocally establish absolute safety, there is a need for further studies to evaluate subtle and delayed indicators of developmental effects, potential mechanisms, and to attempt to estimate threshold exposure conditions.

Effect of Sonication Duration and Power on Ablation Depth During MR‐Guided Focused Ultrasound of Bone

“…The use of MRgFUS for ablations within and adjacent to bone poses several important challenges. As sound energy reaches a bone–soft tissue interface, there is marked attenuation secondary to reflection, absorption, scatter, and mode conversion so that as much as 60–80% of the acoustic energy is attenuated . Thus, while ablation of periosteal nerves at the margin of a bone is readily feasible for palliation of a bone metastasis, fully ablating lesions which extend deeper toward the intramedullary space can be difficult in some cases.…”

MRI‐guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound ablation of bone: Evaluation of acute findings with MR and CT imaging in a swine model

“…When sound waves reach a bone–soft‐tissue interface, there is rapid attenuation secondary to reflection, scattering, and mode conversion, in addition to absorption . As a result, it is estimated that bone attenuates ∼60–80% of acoustic energy . Additionally, differences in the percentage of cortical versus cancellous bone and woven versus lamellar organization of collagen fibers make bone architecture and its interaction with sound waves difficult to reliably predict.…”

Ultrasound in Reproductive Medicine: Is It Safe?

“…Many in vitro models, such as cells or tissue cultures, have been used to investigate ultrasound bioeffects and to gain a better understanding of the possible mechanisms of interaction between ultrasound and biological tissue [ 25 ]. Studies on relatively simple nonmammalian organisms, such as insects, amphibians, and avians, are helpful in understanding the mechanisms of interaction between ultrasound and biological systems [ 26 ]. However, from a clinical standpoint, bioeffect studies of mammalian species are of more relevance.…”