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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rofo 2024; 196(12): 1220-1227
DOI: 10.1055/a-2275-2972
Review

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the liver: Vascular pathologies and interventions

Article in several languages: English | deutsch
Ehsan Safai Zadeh 
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27271)
2   Interdisciplinary Centre of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Infectiology, University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg Campus Marburg, Marburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN61061)
,
Helmut Prosch 
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27271)
,
Ahmed Ba-Ssalamah
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27271)
,
Martina Scharitzer
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27271)
,
Svitlana Pochepnia
1   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27271)
,
Hajo Findeisen
3   Department for Internal Medicine, Red Cross Hospital Bremen, Bremen, Germany
,
Amjad Alhyari
2   Interdisciplinary Centre of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Infectiology, University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg Campus Marburg, Marburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN61061)
,
Nils Raab
4   Department for Internal Medicine, West Mecklenburg Hospital Helene von Bülow, Ludwigslust, Germany
,
Katharina Paulina Huber
5   Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
,
Christian Görg
2   Interdisciplinary Centre of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Infectiology, University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg Campus Marburg, Marburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN61061)
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Abstract

Background

Over the past two decades, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been established as a method complementary to B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler sonography for diagnosing vascular liver pathologies and interventions.

Method

The objective of this review is to elucidate the application of CEUS in diagnosing vascular pathologies and interventional procedures.

Results and Conclusion

Considering the limitations of ultrasound, CEUS presents a similar alternative to other imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, for evaluating vascular pathologies, guiding interventions, identifying complications, and assessing outcomes post intervention. Due to its widespread availability and the absence of radiation exposure, CEUS should be employed as a primary modality.

Key Points

  • CEUS plays an important role in the detection of vascular liver pathologies.

  • CEUS is helpful in characterizing vascular pathologies.

  • CEUS is helpful in guiding interventions and identifying complications.

Keywords

Ultrasound - CEUS - Liver - vascular pathology - Intervention - Diagnostics


Publication History

Received: 20 December 2023

Accepted after revision: 13 February 2024

Article published online:
18 April 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 commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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