Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) in children: ready for prime time in the United States

Excerpt

Ultrasound contrast agents (USCAs) have been in clinical use for more than 25 years and, like many imaging advances, are primarily used in adults. USCAs are microscopic microbubbles filled with different types of gases. On the US screen, they appear as echogenic dots. They can be administered intravenously and, being blood pool agents, remain intravascular, thus enhancing the visibility of the vascular structures. In addition to making larger vessels visible, they can demonstrate microperfusion, thus revealing tissue ischemia. In combination with Doppler examination, they enhance the signal of color, power and spectral Doppler. The long-standing and most widespread IV use of USCAs is in echocardiography. Intracavitary use of USCAs includes the intravesical administration for diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) or the intrauterine injection for sonographic hysterosalpingography. The elimination of radiation exposure and the possible cost savings by reducing the number of potential additional CT or MR examinations are important advantages of CEUS. The clinical safety profile of USCAs is excellent, with no nephrotoxicity. …