Contrast EUS of the Pancreas

AIM Early detection of pancreas cancer and precursors lesions improves survival. The investigators aim is to gauge whether quantitative contrast endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) improves the evaluation of pancreas tumors and precursors lesions including cysts. DESIGN The study will be a prospective tandem contrast EUS trial. All EUS will be performed as part of standard clinical care. Conventional EUS Standard EUS will first be performed using the 180 series linear array echoendoscope (Olympus, Center Valley, PA). The alpha-10 image processor (Aloka America, Wallingford, CT) in B mode will be used to acquire images. A research coordinator will help to record key parameters. Thirty second cine clips of conventional EUS images will be captured to compare with contrast EUS clips and enable intra and interobserver variability comparison. Contrast Administration Definity contrast will be activated by 45 seconds of agitation (VialMix, Lantheus, North Billerica, MA) and injected through the intravenous peripheral line which is placed to administer fluids. The investigators will administer a bolus dose of 10microliter (microL)/kg within 30-60 seconds followed by 10ml of saline flush. Up to 2 bolus injections will be administered during each case and doppler sonography will be used between them to induce microbubble destruction. Contrast EUS: Following contrast administration prospective assessment will be performed using the Olympus endoscope and images processed using the Alpha 10 system. Harmonic detection conversion software installed on the alpha 10 processor to enable detection. Core parameters for comparison to conventional EUS will be captured prospectively. Quantitative Processing: For each bolus 30 seconds of cine imaging will be captured for post processing and for comparison with conventional EUS imaging (intra and interobserver variability). Images of the lesion (5mm x 5mm region) and adjacent normal tissue (5mm x 5mm) regions will be captured to facilitate quantitative assessment. Quantitative analytic software will then be used to generate time intensity curves and associated values including peak intensity (PI), time to peak (TTP), wash-in-slope (WIS), rise time (RT), mean transit time (MTT), and time from peak to one-half (TPH). DRUG/DEVICE INFORMATION Definity: Definity is an intravenous contrast agent. It is comprised of 1.1-3.3um micropheres containing perflutren (octafluoropropane) which is cleared by respiration. The gas is encapsulated lipid shells which are metabolized to free fatty acids and hepatically cleared. The Olympus 180 linear echoendoscope will be used in all procedures which are being done for standard clinical indications. The Aloka SSD-Alpha 10-Processor will be used for image capture. Post EUS quantitative processing will be performed using QLAB quantification software (Philips Healthcare, Bothel, WA).