SonoVue® Does Not Appear to Cross the Placenta as Observed During an Examination Aimed at Confirming a Diagnosis of Liver Echinococcosis in a Pregnant Woman

We would like to report the observation of the distribution of SonoVue^® based on an abdominal examination we carried out in a pregnant woman. A 34-year-old pregnant woman (first trimester, 11 weeks of pregnancy) was assessed in our Interdisciplinary Ultrasound Unit of the Radiology Department due to diagnostic evaluation of epigastric pain with radiation to the lower abdomen. Liver enzymes, AP, CRP, bilirubin, albumin white blood cell count were all within range. Ultrasound in combination with serology suggested the diagnosis of hepatic cystic echinococcosis, but an off-label contrast-enhanced ultrasound exam was carried out after getting the patient’s informed consent in order to rule out a cystic malignancy which would have impacted the management of the pregnancy ([Fig. 1a, b]). We used the abdominal examination as an opportunity to observe the distribution of the ultrasound contrast agent in the uterus. No fetal contrast enhancement could be seen during the CEUS examination, indicating that microbubbles did not cross the placental barrier ([Fig. 2]).

• Literatur

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• 2 Arthuis CJ. et al. New insights into uteroplacental perfusion: quantitative analysis using Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. Placenta 2013; 34: 424-431