Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) - Clinical application

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is mainly used in heart examination and to detect and characterize focal liver lesions. CEUS also allows the evaluation of the spleen, pancreas, kidneys, lymph nodes and the detection of porto-systemic shunts. UCAs can be administered intracavitarily, e.g. in the urinary bladder. In human medicine CEUS is used in the assessment of anti-angiogenic treatment. In some cases concerning the detection and characterization of focal lesions in such organs as the liver, spleen and kidneys, CEUS is equally or more efficient than CECT. The advantages of CEUS are: non-invasiveness, high availability, short examination time, low cost expenses and good patient tolerance compared to contrast agents use in CECT and CEMRI. The appearance of UCAs decreased the gap dividing the diagnostic value of USG and CT/MRI and also allows the characterization of neoplastic lesions without the need of invasion biopsy and diagnostic laparatomy.