Quantitative Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound That Can Be Used to Evaluate Angiogenesis during Patellar Tendon Healing in Rats

Figure 2

CEUS of the patellar tendons in the control and operation groups. (a) CEUS imaging of an exemplary injured patellar tendon 7 days after surgery. The circle delineates the patellar tendon as the ROI, and the arrow points to the spot-like enhancement in the center of the patellar tendon. (b) Statistical analysis of PI in CEUS. The dashed line indicates the BI. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of 10 rats at each time point. Please note that the data in the control group was the BI, not the PI. (c) The TIC of I control group, II 7 days, III 14 days, and IV 28 days after surgery. Please note that the patellar tendons of the control group were not enhanced. The high-frequency chaotic curve shown in the I control group was the basic intensity curve. The TIC of II 7 days, III 14 days, and IV 28 days after surgery could be fitted into smooth curves. p < 0.01; p < 0.001.

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