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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rofo 2024; 196(08): 807-818
DOI: 10.1055/a-2219-4726
Review

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the liver: basics and interpretation of common focal lesions

Article in several languages: English | deutsch
Ehsan Safai Zadeh 
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
,
Helmut Prosch 
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
,
Ahmed Ba-Ssalamah
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
,
Hajo Findeisen
2   Department for Internal Medicine, Red Cross Hospital Bremen, Germany
,
Amjad Alhyari
3   Interdisciplinary Centre of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Infectiology, University Hospital of Gießen and Marburg Campus Marburg, Germany
,
Nils Raab
4   Department for Internal Medicine, West Mecklenburg Hospital Helene von Bülow, Ludwigslust, Germany
,
Christian Görg
3   Interdisciplinary Centre of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Infectiology, University Hospital of Gießen and Marburg Campus Marburg, Germany
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Abstract

Background

Over the past 20 years, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become established as a procedure that is complementary to B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler sonography.

Method

The aim of this review is to provide the fundamental knowledge required for examining the liver with CEUS. Additionally, the characteristic CEUS patterns of frequent focal liver lesions are described.

Results and Conclusion

Considering the limitations of ultrasound, CEUS offers an equivalent alternative to other imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, for evaluating focal liver lesions. It should be utilized as a primary modality due to its lack of radiation exposure and rapid availability.

Key Points

  • CEUS plays an important role particularly in the detection and evaluation of incidentally detected liver lesions.

  • Considering the limitations of ultrasound, CEUS offers an equivalent alternative to other imaging modalities, such as CT and MRI, for evaluating focal liver lesions.

Citation Format

  • Safai Zadeh E, Prosch H, Ba-Ssalamah A et al. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the liver: basics and interpretation of common focal lesions. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; 196: 807 – 818

Keywords

CEUS - ultrasound - liver - focal lesions - diagnostic imaging


Publication History

Received: 15 August 2023

Accepted: 24 October 2023

Article published online:
04 January 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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