Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the liver using SonoVue.

Author: Giovanna FERRAIOLI ¹ ; Maria Franca MELONI
Author Information

1. Ultrasound Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. giovanna.ferraioli@unipv.it
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: Liver; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Liver tumors; Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Liver metastasis
MeSH: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Diagnosis; Follow-Up Studies; Liver Diseases; Liver*; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Ultrasonography*
From: Ultrasonography 2018;37(1):25-35
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: This review focuses on the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with SonoVue (Bracco Imaging) for the diagnosis of focal liver lesions (FLLs), guidance during ablative treatment, and follow-up of liver tumors. Multicenter trials have shown that the performance of CEUS for the characterization of FLLs is similar to that of contrast-enhanced computed tomography or contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. CEUS with SonoVue has been effectively used for guiding the percutaneous treatment of malignant liver tumors that are invisible or poorly visualized in traditional gray-scale ultrasonography. Postprocedural CEUS may be used to detect and retreat residual viable tissue in the same ablative session. The use of CEUS for the assessment of diffuse liver disease is also discussed.