Diagnostic microspheres: An overview

Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems

Volumn 20, Issue 6, 2003, Pages 433-460

  Sinha, V R ^a   Goyal, V ^a   Bhinge, J R ^a   Mittal, B R ^b   Trehan, A ^a  

^a PANJAB UNIVERSITY   (India)

^b POSTGRADUATE INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH   (India)

Author keywords

Contrast agents; Diagnostic agents; Microspheres; Radioactive microspheres

Indexed keywords

CONTRAST MEDIUM; DIAGNOSTIC AGENT; MICROSPHERE; RADIOISOTOPE;

BLOOD FLOWMETRY; DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE; MICROENCAPSULATION; NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING; REVIEW; ULTRASOUND; X RAY; ANIMAL; DELAYED RELEASE FORMULATION; DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING; HUMAN; METHODOLOGY; PHARMACEUTICS;

ANIMALS; CONTRAST MEDIA; DELAYED-ACTION PREPARATIONS; DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING; HUMANS; MICROSPHERES; RADIOISOTOPES; TECHNOLOGY, PHARMACEUTICAL;

EID: 3142602938     PISSN: 07434863     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1615/CritRevTherDrugCarrierSyst.v20.i6.20     Document Type: Review

References (113)

1. Seidel G, Meyer K, Metzlar V, Toth D, Vida-Langwasser M, Aach T. Human cerebral perfusion analysis with ultrasound contrast infusion: a pilot study on healthy volunteers. Ultrasound Med Biol 2002; 28:183-189.
2. Kono Y, Steinbach GC, Peterson T, Schmid-Schonbein GW, Mattrey RF. Mechanism of parenchymal enhancement of the liver with a microbubble-based US contrast medium: an intravital microscopy study in rats. Radiology 2002; 224:253-257.
3. Lindstorm P, Kallskog O, Wadstrom J, Persson AE. Blood flow distribution during elevated intraperitoneal pressure in the rat. Acta Physiol Scand 2003; 177:149-156.
4. Haefli U. Radioactive microspheres for medical applications. J Radiol 2001. www. jradiology.com/arts/34.pdf.
5. Marcus ML, Heistad DD, Ehrhardt JC, Abboud FM. Total and regional cerebral blood flow measurement with 7, 10, 15, 25 and 50 μm microspheres. J Appl Physiol 1976; 40:501-507.
6. Schroder ULF. Diagnostic and contrast agent. US Patent 6,544,496, 2003.
7. Yang DJ, Nikiforows S, Gretzer MB, Kuang LR, Lopez MS, Varges K, Wallace S. Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of poly (benzyl L-glutamate). J Pharm Sci 1994; 83:328-331.
8. Violante MR, Mare K, Fischer HW. Biodistribution of a particulate hepatolienographic CT contrast agent: a study of iodipamide ethyl ester in the rat. Invest Radiol 1981; 16:40-45.
9. Laccourreye O, Laurent A, Polivka M, Wassef M, Domas L, Brusnu D, Merland JJ. Biodegradable starch microspheres for cerebral arterial embolization. Invest Radiol 1993; 28:150-154.
10. Taniguchi H, Takahashi T, Yamaguchi T, Sawai K. Intraarterial infusion chemotherapy for metastatic liver tumors using multiple anti-cancer agents suspended in a lipid contrast medium. Cancer 1989; 64:2001-2006.
11. Ansel HC, Allen LV, Popovich NG. Radiopharmaceuticals. In: Ansel HC, Allen LV, Popovich NG, editors. Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000.
12. 99mTc-annexin V and its biologic evaluation for in vivo imaging of apoptosis after photodynamic therapy. J Nucl Med 2003; 44: 650-656.
13. Hafeli UO, Yu J, Farudi F, Li Y, Tapolsky G. Radiolabeling of magnetic targeted carriers (MTC) with indium-111. Nucl Med Biol 2003; 30:761-769.
14. Hummel SJ, Delgado G, Butterfield A, Dritschilo A, Harbert J. Measurement of blood flow through surgical anastomosis using the radioactive microspheres technique. Obstet Gynecol 1985; 66:579-584.
15. Beck KC. Regional trapping of microspheres in the lung compares well with regional blood flow. J Appl Physiol 1989; 63:883-889.
16. Lopez-Novoa JM, Martin-Oar JE, Mata F, Ramos B, Hernando L. Measurement of the cardiac output and its peripheral distribution in the rats by means of radioactive microspheres. Rev Esp Fisiol 1980; 36:271-278.
17. Barnett S, Mulligan E, Wagerle LC, Lahiri S. Measurement of carotid body blood flow in cats by the use of radioactive microspheres. J Appl Physiol 1988; 65:2484-2489.
18. Lewis WE, Greenfield SP, Perry B, Morin FC. Renal blood flow measurements in a porcine model with unilateral vesicoureteral reflux. J Urol 1991; 146:649-653.
19. Thanoo BC, Sunny MC, Jayakrishnan A. Tantalum loaded polyurethane microspheres for particulate embolization: preparation and properties. Biomaterials 1991; 12:525-528.
20. Thanoo BC, Jayakrishnan A. Barium sulfate loaded p (HEMA) miocrospheres as artificial emboli: preparation and properties. Biomaterials 1990; 11:477-481.
21. Jayakrishnan A, Thanoo BC, Rathinam K, Mohanty M. Preparation and evaluation of radiopaque hydrogel microspheres based on PHEMA/iothalamic acid and PHEMA/iopanoic acid as particulate emboli. J Biomed Mater Res 1990; 24:993-1004.
22. Horak D, Metalova M, Svec F, Drobnik J, Katal J, Borovicka M, Adamynan AA, Vbronkova OS, Gumargaliveva KZ. Hydrogels in endovascular embolisation 111. Radiopaque spherical particles, their preparation, and properties. Biomaterials 1987; 8:142-145.
23. Rongved P, Lindberg B, Klaveness J. Cross linked, degradable starch microspheres as carriers of paramagnetic contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging: synthesis, degradation and relaxation properties. Carbohydr Res 1991; 214:325-330.
24. Dion JE, Rankin RN, Vinuela F, Fox AJ, Wallace AC, Mervart M. Dextran microspheres embolization: experimental and clinical experience with radiologic pathologic correlation. Radiology 1986; 160:717-21.
25. Lazarow, Normand H, Bove, Alfred A. Imaging system and method using radiopaque microspheres for evaluation of organ tissue perfusion. US Patent 4,709,703, 1987.
26. Passariello R. Diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology. Business Briefing: Global Healthcare 2002; 3:90-92.
27. Mahfouz AE, Hamm B, Mathien D. Imaging of metastasis of liver. Eur Radiol 1996; 6:607-614.
28. Crnac J, Schmidt MC, Theissen P, Sechtem U. Assessment of myocardial perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging. Herz 1997; 22:16-28.
29. Unger EC, Ugurbil K, Latchaw RE. Contrast agents for cerebral perfusion magnetic resonance imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 1994; 4:235-242.
30. Chuang S. Contrast agents in paediatric neuroimaging. Am J Neuroradiol 1992; 13: 785-791.
31. Bradley W, Yuh WTC, Bydder GM. Use of MR imaging contrast agents in the brain. J Magn Reson Imaging 1993; 3:199-218.
32. Weinmann HJ, Brasch RC, Press WR, Wesbey GE. Characteristics of gadolinium-DTPA complex: a potential NMR contrast agent. Am J Roentgenol 1984; 142: 619-624.
33. Gibby WA, Billings J, Hall J, Ouitt TW. Biodistribution and magnetic resonance imaging of cross-linked DTPA polysaccharides. Invest Radiol 1990; 25:164-172.
34. Wang SC, Wikstrom MG, White DL, Klavenss J, Holtz E, Rongved P, Moseley ME, Brasch RC. Evaluation of Gd-DTPA labeled dextran as an intravascular MR contrast agent imaging characteristics in normal rat tissues. Radiology 1990; 175:483-488.
35. Schwickert HC, Stiskal M, Van Dijke CF, Roberts TP, Mann JS, Demsar F, Brasch RC. Tumor angiography using high resolution, three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging, comparison of gadopentetate dimeglumine and a macromolecular blood pool contrast agent. Acad Radiol 1995; 2:851-858.
36. Parmelee DJ, Walovitch RC, Oullet HS, Lauffer RB. Preclinical evaluation of the pharmaceutical, biodistribution, and elimination of MS-325, a blood pool agent for magnetic resonance imaging. Invest Radiol 1997; 32:741-747.
37. Widder DJ, Grief WL, Widder KJ, Edelman RE, Brady TJ. Magnetite albumin microsphere: a new MR contrast material. Am J Roentgenol 1987; 148:399-404.
38. Widder, Kenneth J. Method of magnetic resonance imaging of the liver and spleen. US patent 4,675,173, 1987.
39. VanBeers B, Grandin C, Jamart J, Demeure R, Jacobsen TF, Pringot J. Magnetic resonance imaging of lower abdominal and pelvic lesions: assessment of oral magnetic particles as an intestinal contrast agent. Eur J Radiol 1992; 14:252-257.
40. Widder DJ, Edelman RR, Grief WL, Monda L. Magnetite albumin suspension: a superparamagnetic oral MR contrast agent. AJR 1987; 149:839-843.
41. Ophir J, Parker KJ. Contrast agents in diagnostic ultrasound. Ultrasound Med Biol 1989; 15:319-323.
42. Correas JM, Bridal L, Lesavre A, Mejean A, Claudon M, Helenon O. Ultrasound contrast agents: properties, principles of action, tolerance and artifacts. Eur Radiol 2001; 11:1316-1328.
43. Burns PN. Ultrasound contrast agents in radiological diagnosis. Radiol Med 1994; 87:71-82.
44. Unger, Evan C. Methods for diagnostic imaging using a renal contrast agent and a vasodilator. US Patent 5,846,517, 1998.
45. Porter, Thomas R. Suspended ultra-sound induced microbubble cavitation imaging. US Patent 5,740,807, 1998.
46. Aronson S, Thistlethwaite RJ, Walker R, Feinstein SB, Roizen MF. Safety and feasibility of renal blood flow determination during kidney transplant surgery with perfusion ultrasonography. Anaesth Analg 1995; 80:353-359.
47. Backman C, Friden J, Widmark A. Blood flow in chronic Achilles tendinosis radioactive microsphere study in rabbits. Acta Orthop Scand 1991; 62:386-387.
48. Keller MW, Glasheen W, Kaul S. Albunex: a safe and effective commercially produced agent for myocardial contrast echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1989; 2:48-52.
49. Paltiel HJ, Mulkern RV, Perez-Atayde A, Connolly LP, Zurakowski D, Treves ST, Atala A. Effect of chronic, low pressure, sterile vesicoureteral reflux on renal growth and function in a porcine model: a radiologic and pathologic study. Radiology 2000; 217:507-515.
50. Cohen JL, Cheirif J, Segar DS, Gillam LD, Gottdiener JS, Housnerova E, Bruns DE. Improved left ventricular endocardial border delineation and opacification with OPTISON (FSO69) a new echocardiographic contrast agent. Results of Phase III multicenter trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998; 32:746-752.
51. Klauser A, Frauscher F, Schirmer M, Halpern E, Pallwein L, Herold M, Heiweg G, ZurNedden D. The value of contrast enhanced color Doppler ultrasound in the detection of vascularisation of finger joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2002; 46:647-653.
52. Alm A. Radioactively labeled microspheres in regional cerebral blood flow determinations. A study on monkeys with 15 and 35 μm spheres. Acta Physiol Scand 1975; 95: 60-65.
53. Bloomfield SA, Hogan HA, Delp MD. Decreases in bone blood flow and bone material properties in aging Fischer 344 rats. Clin Orthop 2002; 396:248-257.
54. Lyon MJ, Davis JR. Age related blood flow and capillary changes in the rat utricular macula: a quantitative stereological and microsphere study. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2002; 3:167-173.
55. Spierings EL. Headache following cervical sympathectomy and results of a blood flow study in the cat. Headache 2003; 43:410-414.
56. Kleen M, Zwissler B, Schosser R, Messmer K. Determination of regional pulmonary blood flow with systemically injected nonentrapped microspheres. J Appl Physiol 1996; 81:695-706.
57. Drescher W, Schneider T, Becker C, Hobolth L, Ruther W, Bunger C, Hansen ES. Reperfusion pattern of the immature femoral head after critical ischemia: a microsphere study in pigs. Acta Orthop Scand 1999; 70:439-45.
58. Chien GL, Anselone CG, Davis RF, Van Winkle DM. Fluorescent vs. radioactive microsphere measurement of regional myocardial blood flow. Cardiovasc Res 1995; 30:405-412.
59. Tao W, Zwischenberger JB, Nguyen TT, Vertrees RA, McDaniel LB, Nutt LK, Herndon DN, Kramer GC. Gut mucosal ischemia during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass results from blood flow redistribution and increased oxygen demand. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1995; 110:819-828.
60. Roux S, Clozel M, Wolfgang R, Sprecher U, Clozel JP. Comparative evaluation of acute cerebral vasospasm by the microsphere and the angiography techniques. J Neurosci Methods 1995; 59:245-252.
61. Moutos D, Schryer B, Hurn P, Dharmarajan AM. Effect of exogenous oestrogen on blood flow and quantitative histology of the corpora lutea of pseudopregnant rabbits. J Reprod Fertil 1995; 103:357-362.
62. Singh P, Roberts MS. Blood flow measurements in skin and underlying tissues by microsphere method: application to dermal pharmacokinetics of polar nonelectrolytes. J Pharm Sci 1993; 82:873-879.
63. Walsh EG, Minematsu K, Leppo J, Moore SC. Radioactive microsphere validation of a volume localized continuous saturation perfusion measurement. Magn Reson Med 1994; 31:147-153.
64. Reinhardt CP, Dalhberg S, Tries MA, Marcel R, Leppo JA. Stable labeled microspheres to measure perfusion: validation of a neutron activation assay technique. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2001; 280:H108-116.
65. Di Carli MF, Prcevski P, Singh TP, Janisse J, Ager J, Muzik O, Vander Heide R. Myocardial blood flow, function, and metabolism in repetitive stunning. J Nucl Med 2000; 41:1235-1236.
66. Levy PS, Quigley RL, Gould SA. Acute dilutional anemia and critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis impairs end organ oxygen delivery. J Trauma 1996; 41:416-423.
67. Partsch H, Jochmann W, Mostbeck A, Hirschl M. Nuclear medicine studies of tissue concentration and hemodynamic effects of retrograde intravenous pressure infusions. Wien Med Wochenschr 1993; 143:172-176.
68. Dowell RT, Kauer CD. Uteroplacental blood flow at rest and during exercise in late-gestation conscious rats. J Appl Physiol 1993; 74:2079-2085.
69. Endo T, Sato N, Kaneko H, Kiuchi K, Fujita S, Nejima J, Hayakawa H, Suzuki Y. Regional myocardial blood flow measurement with radioactive microspheres in dogs with myocardial ischemia. Nippon Ika Daigaku Zasshi 1991; 58:696-702.
70. Roy MS, Harrison KS, Harvey E, Mitchell T. Ocular blood flow in dogs using radio-labelled microspheres. Int J Rad Appl Instrum B 1989; 16:81-84.
71. Austin RE Jr, Hauck WW, Aldea GS, Flynn AE, Coggins DL, Hoffman JI. Quantitating error in blood flow measurements with radioactive microspheres. Am J Physiol 1989; 257:H280-288.
72. Morita Y, Payne BD, Aldea GS, McWatters, Husseini W, Mori H, Hoffman JIE, Kaufman L. Local blood flow measured by fluorescence excitation of nonradioactive microspheres. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 1990; 258:H1573-1584.
73. Party E, Gershey EL. A review of some available radioactive and non-radioactive substitutes for use in biomedical research. Health Phys 1995; 69:1-5.
74. Prinzen GW, Glenny RW. Developments in non-radioactive microsphere techniques for blood flow measurement. Cardiovasc Res 1994; 28:1467-1475.
75. Sidi A, Rush W. An alternative to radioactive microspheres for measuring the regional myocardial blood flow. Part 1: Colored microspheres. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 1996; 10:368-373.
76. Van Oosterhout MFM, Willigers HMM, Reneman RS, Prinzen FW. Florescent microspheres to measure organ perfusion: validation of a simplified sample processing technique. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 1995; 269:H725-733.
77. De Visscher G, Haseldonckx M, Flameng W, Borgers M, Reneman RS, van Rossem K. Development of a novel fluorescent microsphere technique to combine serial cerebral blood flow measurements with histology in the rat. J Neurosci Methods 2003; 122: 149-156.
78. Dalshaug GB, Scholz TD, Smith OM, Bedell KA, Caldarone CA, Segar JL. Effects of gestational age on myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve in pressure-loaded ovine fetal hearts. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2002; 282: H1359-1369.
79. Ahmed J, Pulfer MK, Linsenmeier RA. Measurement of blood flow through the retinal circulation of the cat during normoxia and hypoxemia using fluorescent microspheres. Microvasc Res 2001; 62:143-153.
80. Hubler M, Souders JE, Shade ED, Hlastala MP, Polissar NL, Glenny RW. Validation of fluorescent-labeled microspheres for measurement of relative blood flow in severely injured lungs. J Appl Physiol 1999; 87:2381-2385.
81. Gervais M, Demolis P, Domergue V, Lesage M, Richer C, Giudicelli JF. Systemic and regional hemodynamics assessment in rats with fluorescent microspheres. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1999; 33:425-432.
82. Tan W, Riggs KW,Thies KL, Rurak DW. Use of an automated fluorescent microsphere method to measure regional blood flow in the fetal lamb. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1997; 75:959-968.
83. Glenny RW, Bernard S, Brinkley M. Validation of fluorescent-labeled microspheres for measurement of regional organ perfusion. J Appl Physiol 1993; 74:2585-2597.
84. Austin GE, Tuvlin MB, Martino-Salzman D, Hunter RL, Justicz AG, Thompson NK, Brooks AC. Determination of regional myocardial blood flow using fluorescent microspheres. Am J Cardiovasc Pathol 1993; 4:352-357.
85. Sundin A, Wang C, Ericsson A, Fahlvik AK. Magnetic starch microspheres in the MR imaging of hepatic metastases. A preclinical study in the nude rat. Acta Radiol 1998; 39:161-166.
86. Kreft BP, Tanimoto A, Leffler S, Finn JP, Oksendal AN, Stark DD. Contrast enhanced MR imaging of diffuse and focal splenic disease with use of magnetic strach microspheres. J Magn Reson Imaging 1994; 4:373-379.
87. Furman-Haran E, Margalit R, Grobgeld D, Degani H. High resolution MRI of MCF7 human breast tumors: complemented use of iron oxide microspheres and Gd-DTPA. J Magn Reson Imaging 1998; 8:634-641.
88. Pulfer SK, Gallo JM. Enhanced brain tumor selectivity of cationic magnetic polysaccharide microspheres. J Drug Target 1998; 6:215-217.
89. Schmeidel U, Sievers RE, Brash RC, Wolfe CL, Chew WM, Ogan MD, Engeseth H, Lipton MJ, Moseley ME. Acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion: MR imaging with albumin Gd-DTPA. Radiology 1989; 170:351-356.
90. Kindberg GM, Tolleshaug H, Skotland T. Uptake and degradation of radioactively labeled albumin microspheres as markers for Kupffer cell phagocytosis. Cell Tissue Res 2000; 300:397-400.
91. Bhargava KK, Palestro CJ, Camaya MV, Rajvanshi P, Gupta S. Radionuclide analysis of drug-induced blood-pool changes in liver and other organs. J Nucl Med 2000; 41: 474-479.
92. Ehrhardt GJ, Day DE. Therapeutic use of 90Y microspheres. Nucl Med Biol Int J Appl Instr Part B 1987; 14:233-242.
93. Saeki T, Karaki Y, Maeda M, Honda T, Fujimaki M. Development of 99m Tc labeled activated carbon microspheres and clinical application. Nippon Geka Daigaku Zasshi 1990; 91:729-740.
94. Hafeli UO, Pauer GJ, Roberts WK, Humm JL, Macklis RM. Magnetically targeted microspheres for intracavitary and intraspinal 90Y radiotherapy. In: Hafeli U, Schutt W, Teller J, Zborowski M, editors. Scientific and Clinical Applications of Magnetic Carriers. New York: Plenum.
95. Ergun EL, Ercan MT, Selec H, Kas HS, Ruacan S, Uncal IS, Muttu M. Evaluation of 99m Tc labeled polylactic acid microspheres for diagnostic radioembolisation. J Microencapsul 2000; 17:509-518.
96. Palla A, Bellina CR, Marini C, Pazzagli M, Giuntini C. A noninvasive, quantitative method to demonstrate the early effects of therapy in acute pulmonary embolism. Eur J Nucl Med 2001; 28:1605-1609.
97. Orden MR, Jurvelin JS, Kirkinen PP. Kinetics of a US contrast, agent in benign and malignant adnexal tumors. Radiology 2003; 226:405-410.
98. Duda VF, Rode G, Schlief R. Echocontrast agent enhanced color flow imaging of the breast. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1993; 3:191-194.
99. Castini D, Gentile F, Ornaghi M, Mangiarotti E, Garbin M, Ravagli R, Gioventu M, Mantero A, Corno R, Limido A, Morandi F, Fiorentini C, Pezzano A, Repetto S, Haider T, Morris H, Marelli C. Left ventricular opacification by intravenous contrast echocardiography. G Ital Cardiol 1999; 29:620-629.
100. Linder JR. Detection of inflamed plaques with contrast ultrasound. Am J Cardiol 2002; 90:32L-35L.
101. Wiesmann M, Seidel G. Ultrasound perfusion imaging of the human brain. Stroke 2000; 31:2421-2425.
102. Satterfield R, Tarter VM, Schumacher DJ, Tran P, Mattrey RF. Comparison of different perfluorocarbons as ultrasound contrast agents. Invest Radiol 1993; 28:325-331.
103. De Jong N, Ten Cate FJ. New ultrasound contrast agents and technological innovations. IEEE Eng Med Biol 1996; 72-82.
104. Porter TR, Kricsfeld A, Kilzer K. Noninvasive identification of acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion with contrast ultrasound using intravenous perfluoropropane exposed sonicated dextrose albumin. J Am Coll Cardiol 1995; 26:33-40.
105. Unger EC, Lund PJ, Shen DK, Fritz TA, Yellowhair D, New TE. Nitrogen filled liposomes as a vascular contrast agent preliminary evaluation. Radiology 1992; 185: 453-456.
106. Becher H, Schlief R. Improved sensitivity of color Doppler by SH U 454. Am J Cardiol 1989; 64:374-377.
107. Forsberg F, Liu JB, Merten DA, Rawool NM, Goldberg BB. Parenchymal enhancement and tumor visualization using a new sonographic contrast agent. Int J Ultrasound Med 1995; 14:949-957.
108. Watkin KL, McDonald MA. Multimodal contrast agents. Acad Radiol 2002; 9: S285-S289.
109. Forsberg F, Goldberg BB, Liu JB, Merton DA, Rawool NM. On the feasibility of real time, in vivo harmonic imaging with proteinaceous microspheres. J Ultrasound Med 1996; 15:853-860.
110. Schlief R, Alhassan A, Wiggins J, Schumann W, Niendof HP. Safety of galactose based ultrasound contrast agent Levovist. Acad Radiol 2002; 9:S240-S242.
111. Goldberg BB, Hilpert PL, Burns PN, Liu JB, Newmen LM, Merton DA, Witlin LA. Hepatic tumors: signal enhancement at Doppler US after intravenous injection of a contrast agent. Radiology 1990; 177:713-717.
112. Vandenberg BF, Melton HE. Acoustic lability of albumin microspheres. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1994; 6:582-589.
113. Balen F, Allen C, Lees W. Review: Ultrasound contrast agents. Clin Radiol 1994; 49: 77-82.