CEUS represents a useful method in clinical practice for differentiating between malignant and benign FLLs detected on standard ultrasonography, and the results of this study are in concordance with previous multicenter studies: DEGUM (Germany) and STIC (France).

Neural network analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography - obtained TICs seems a promising field of development for future techniques, providing fast and reliable diagnostic aid for the clinician.

The use of liver elastography has substantially developed in the past few years; the introduction of novel elastographic methods (Transient Elastography, point Shear Wave Elastography, Real Time Shear Wave Elastography, Strain Elastography) has changed the perspective in the evaluation of liver disease. The ongoing research in this area is mainly focused on diffuse liver diseases and for predicting liver cirrhosis complication. This guideline created under the auspice of Romanian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology is intended to accustomize the clinician with the current practical use of liver elastography and has been issued to help in maximizing the clinical benefit for the patients with chronic liver diseases.

No abstract

Visualization of tumor angiogenesis can facilitate non-invasive evaluation of tumor vascular characteristics to supplement the conventional diagnostic imaging goals of depicting tumor location, size, and morphology. Hybrid imaging techniques combine anatomic [ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] and molecular (single photon emission CT and positron emission tomography) imaging modalities. One example is real-time virtual sonography, which combines ultrasound (grayscale, colour Doppler, or dynamic contrast harmonic imaging) with contrast-enhanced CT/MRI. The benefits of fusion imaging include an increased diagnostic confidence, direct comparison of the lesions using different imaging modalities, more precise monitoring of interventional procedures, and reduced radiation exposure.