Measurement of temperature dependence of sound velocity in biological tissues

Transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization using Lipiodol((R)) is one of the treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma. During this procedure, it is important to monitor the Lipiodol((R)) deposited inside tumors. This study proposes a method for measurement of the temperature dependence of the velocity of sound in biological tissues. An ultrasonic pulse-echo method was used to measure the velocity of sound. The temperature coefficients of the velocity of sound for Lipiodol((R)) was -2.82 m s(-1) degrees C-1. Values of 1.07 and 1.59 m s(-1) degrees C-1 were obtained for normal rat liver and cancerous liver tissue, respectively. Thus, this procedure may potentially allow for the evaluation of the infiltration of Lipiodol((R)) inside tumors. (C) 2019 The Japan Society of Applied Physics