SonoVueLumason

SonoVue and Lumason are brand names for a sulfur hexafluoride ultrasound contrast agent used to enhance the visualization of blood flow and tissue vascularity during ultrasonography. SonoVue is the brand used in Europe and many other regions, while Lumason is the brand used in the United States. The product consists of gas-filled microbubbles with a phospholipid shell that are administered intravenously.

The agent works by increasing the echogenicity of the blood pool and small vessels. Under ultrasound, the microbubbles resonate and produce strong acoustic signals, improving delineation of cardiac structures, visualization of perfusion, and detection of focal lesions in organs such as the liver, kidneys, and breast. It is used with various ultrasound modalities, including contrast-enhanced echocardiography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for characterization of liver and other focal lesions.

Administration is by intravenous injection, typically as a bolus followed by a saline flush or as a controlled infusion, depending on the imaging protocol. The imaging window is limited to minutes, during which time real-time assessment of perfusion and vascularity can be performed.

Safety considerations are generally favorable, with most adverse events being mild. Serious reactions are rare. Contraindications include known hypersensitivity to sulfur hexafluoride or to any component of the formulation, and any condition that poses a significant risk from intravascular contrast or from right-to-left shunting. Caution is advised in patients with severe cardiopulmonary disease.

Regulatory status varies by region; the same active substance is marketed under different names. Bracco markets the product as SonoVue outside North America and as Lumason inside the United States.