Kontrastsusultraheli

Kontrastsusultraheli, commonly termed contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), is an ultrasound imaging modality that uses intravenously administered gas-filled microbubble contrast agents to improve visualization of blood flow and tissue vascularity in real time. The contrast agents remain within the bloodstream and do not involve ionizing radiation or nephrotoxic substances. Microbubbles respond to ultrasound by producing nonlinear signals that are captured with specialized low-mechanical-index imaging, enabling assessment of arterial, portal, and late-phase perfusion.

Technique involves injecting a bolus or infusion of microbubble contrast and acquiring real-time ultrasound sequences. Operators monitor enhancement patterns in target tissues, often comparing arterial, venous, and late phases. CEUS can be performed with conventional ultrasound equipment using appropriate software for harmonic imaging, and is frequently used to characterize lesions or guide interventional procedures.

Applications include characterization of focal liver lesions, where CEUS patterns help distinguish benign entities from malignancies; enhancement assessment in echocardiography for endocardial border delineation and myocardial perfusion; and imaging of other organs such as the kidney, pancreas, spleen, and breast. CEUS can also assist in guiding biopsies or ablations by confirming tissue perfusion after treatment.

Safety and limitations: CEUS has a favorable safety profile with a low incidence of serious adverse events and no nephrotoxicity. Hypersensitivity to the contrast agent is the main contraindication; caution is advised in patients with certain cardiopulmonary conditions or shunts according to local guidelines. Limitations include operator dependence, reduced image quality in obese patients or excessive bowel gas, and the fact that interpretation depends on pattern recognition and should be integrated with other clinical and imaging data.