The Use of Ultrasound Contrast in Interventional Radiology

Abstract

Ultrasound contrast agents have gained increasing popularity due to the high level of safety, real-time improved visualization, and ability to detect vascularity. As a result, contrast-enhanced ultrasound lends itself well to interventional radiology including in preprocedure assessment, intraprocedural guidance, and postprocedure evaluation. The authors aim to demonstrate the wide utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in both vascular and nonvascular intervention.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the liver: Vascular pathologies and interventions

“…The implementation of CEUS in clinical practice has opened new horizons in the diagnosis of vascular liver pathologies and can support the diagnosis of a variety of vascular liver diseases [2]. Taking into account the primary use of ultrasound in liver diseases, CEUS, which can be performed quickly, without radiation exposure, and directly at the patient's bedside, enables rapid diagnosis and treatment [2,6]. CEUS allows precise visualization of macro and micro vessels as well as the luminal integrity of the drainages in real time [6].…”

“…Taking into account the primary use of ultrasound in liver diseases, CEUS, which can be performed quickly, without radiation exposure, and directly at the patient's bedside, enables rapid diagnosis and treatment [2,6]. CEUS allows precise visualization of macro and micro vessels as well as the luminal integrity of the drainages in real time [6]. Advances in CEUS technology have made contrastenhanced ultrasonography an indispensable tool in sonographic interventions, to guide the intervention, detect complications, and assess post-intervention results [6].…”

“…CEUS allows precise visualization of macro and micro vessels as well as the luminal integrity of the drainages in real time [6]. Advances in CEUS technology have made contrastenhanced ultrasonography an indispensable tool in sonographic interventions, to guide the intervention, detect complications, and assess post-intervention results [6].…”

“…CEUS can be used to support diagnosis and better visualize the puncture target before intervention, for control during intervention, or to confirm the results after surgery [6]. It has been described that CEUS-guided biopsy increases the diagnostic accuracy of liver lesions by up to 10 % compared to non-CEUS-guided US biopsy [3,14].…”

“…Due to these advantages, taking into account the limitations of ▶ Fig. 1 A ultrasound, CEUS represents an optimal method for assessing vascular liver pathologies [2,3,6] .…”