Abstract
This paper explores CT findings of a rabbit brain infection model injected with Escherichia coli and investigates the changes in Hounsfield unit (HU) of arterial blood over time. The brain infection model was produced by injecting E. coli $1{\times}10^7$ CFU/ml, 0.1 ml through the burr hole in the calvarium; 2~3 mm in depth from the dura mater, and contrast-enhanced CT, dynamic CT and arterial blood CT images were gained. It was found that various brain infections such as brain abscess, ventriculitis and meningitis. The CT image of brain abscess showed a typical pattern which the peripheral area was strongly contrast-enhanced while the center was weakly contrast-enhanced. The CT image of ventriculitis showed a strong contrast-enhancement along the lateral ventricle wall, and the CT image of meningitis showed a strong contrast-enhancement in the area between the telencephalon and the diencephalon. In dynamic CT images, the HU value of the infection core before injecting contrast medium was $31.01{\pm}3.55$. By 10 minutes after the injection, the value increased gradually to $40.36{\pm}3.76$. The HU value in the areas of the marginal rim where was hyper-enhanced showed $47.23{\pm}3.12$ before contrast injection, and it increased to $63.59{\pm}3.31$ about 45 seconds after the injection. In addition, the HU value of the normal brain tissue opposite to the E. coli. injected brain was $39.01{\pm}3.24$ before the injection, but after the contrast injection, the value increased to $49.01{\pm}4.29$ in about 30 seconds, and then it showed a gradual decline. In the arterial blood CT, the HU value before the contrast injection was $87.78{\pm}6.88$, and it increased dramatically between 10 to 30 seconds until it reached a maximum value of $749.13{\pm}98.48$. Then it fell sharply to $467.85{\pm}62.98$ between 30 seconds to 45 seconds and reached a plateau by 60 seconds. Later, the value showed a steady decrease and indicated $188.28{\pm}25.03$ at 20 minutes. Through this experiment, it was demonstrated that the brain infection model can be produced by injecting E. coli., and the characteristic of the infection model can be well observed with contrast-enhanced CT scan. The dynamic CT scan showed that the center of the infection was gradually contrast-enhanced, whereases the peripheral area was rapidly contrast-enhanced and then slowly decreased. As for arterial blood, it increased significantly between 10 seconds to 30 seconds after the contrast medium injection and decreased gradually after reaching a plateau.
토끼 뇌에 대장균을 주입하여 CT 소견을 알아보고, 시간에 따른 동맥혈의 하운스필드 값의 변화를 알아보고자 하였다. 토끼 두개관에 천두공(burr hole)을 뚫고 2~3 mm 깊이에 대장균 $1{\times}10^7$ CFU/ml, 0.1 ml을 주입하여 뇌염증 모델을 제작하고, 조영 증강 CT와 동적 CT, 그리고 동맥혈의 CT영상을 얻었다.조영 증강 CT에서 뇌농양, 뇌실염 그리고 뇌막염등 다양한 뇌염증 소견이 보였다. 뇌농양은 중앙부가 거의 조영되지 않고 주변부가 강하게 조영되는 전형적인 양상을 보였고, 뇌실염은 측뇌실 벽을 따라 강하게 조영되는 소견을 보였으며, 뇌막염은 종뇌와 간뇌의 접히는 부위 뇌막이 강하게 조영되었다. 동적 CT영상에서 염증 중앙부의 조영제 주입 전 HU 값은 $31.01{\pm}3.55$였고, 주입 후 10분까지 $40.36{\pm}3.76$으로 서서히 증가하였다. 그리고 염증 가장자리구역에서 HU 값은 조영제 주입 전에 $47.23{\pm}3.12$였고, 조영제 주입 후 약 45초에 $63.59{\pm}3.31$로 가장 많이 증가 하였으나 이후 20분까지 약간 떨어졌다. 또한 균 주입 반대쪽 정상 뇌조직에서 측정한 HU 값은 조영제 주입 전에 $39.01{\pm}3.24$이었고, 조영제 주입 후 약 30초에 $49.01{\pm}4.29$로 가장 많이 조영되었고, 이후 서서히 낮아졌다. 동맥 혈액 CT에서 조영제 주입 전 HU 값은 $87.78{\pm}6.88$이었고, 조영제 주입 후 10초부터 30초까지 급격히 증가하여 $749.13{\pm}98.48$로 최대값을 보이고, 30초부터 45초까지 $467.85{\pm}62.98$로 급격히 감소하며, 45초에서 60초까지는 정체기(plateau)를 보였으며, 이후 20분까지 $188.28{\pm}25.03$으로 감소되었다. 결과적으로 대장균으로 뇌염증 모델을 만들 수 있고, 조영 증강 CT를 통하여 뇌염증의 특징적인 소견을 잘 알 수 있었으며, 동적 CT를 통해 염증 중앙부와 가장자리구역의 조영 양상을 알 수 있고, 동맥혈은 조영제 주입 후 10초부터 30초 까지 급격히 증가하다 정체기를 거쳐 서서히 감소하는 것으로 나타났다.
