Enhancing the role of paediatric ultrasound with microbubbles: a review of intravenous applications.

Enhancing the role of paediatric ultrasound with microbubbles: a review of intravenous applications. Br J Radiol. 2016 Sep 9;:20160556 Authors: Rafailidis V, Deganello A, Watson T, Sidhu PS, Sellars ME Abstract Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) represents a complementary technique to grey-scale and colour Doppler ultrasonography (US) which allows for real-time visualization and characterization of tissue perfusion. Its inherent advantages in the child makes US an ideal imaging modality; repeatability and good tolerance along with the avoidance of computed tomography (CT), a source of ionizing radiation, renders US imaging desirable. Although currently paediatric CEUS is principally used in an "off-label" manner, US contrast agents have received regulatory approval for assessment of paediatric focal liver lesions in the United States of America. The safety of ultrasound contrast-agents is well documented in adults, as safe as or even surpassing the safety profile of CT and magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents. Except for the established intracavitary use of CEUS in voiding urosonography, intravenous paediatric applications have been introduced with promising results in abdominal trauma initial diagnosis and follow-up, characterization and differential diagnosis of focal liver lesions, characterization of lung, pleura, renal and splenic pathology. CEUS has also been used to detect complications after paediatric transplantation, ev...
Source: The British Journal of Radiology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Br J Radiol Source Type: research