Ultrasound International Open – Recently Published

The Role of US Contrast Agents in US-Guided Biopsy of Focal Liver Lesions: A Pictorial Review 

Torben Lorentzen, Christian Pallson Nolsoe

DOI: 10.1055/a-0770-4237

US-guided percutaneous biopsy of focal liver lesions (FLL) is a classic interventional procedure performed by almost all radiology units. Typically, an incidental focal finding on US or a focal indeterminate lesion diagnosed on CT, MRI or PET/CT is referred for US-guided biopsy for final diagnosis. The introduction of microbubble US contrast agents has overcome some of the limitations of standard US in diagnosing FLLs by displaying the microvasculature together with the US morphology, which has increased both the sensitivity and the specificity.

Fig. 1 Typical hemangioma on US confirmed with CEUS. Incidental finding of a 3 cm echogenic, homogeneous and well demarcated mass in the left liver lobe a. In CEUS mode the monitor shows fundamental US mode to the left and contrast US mode to the right. In the arterial phase (after 20 s), characteristic rim enhancement is demonstrated around the hemangioma b. After 60 s (late phase), the rim enhancement is progressing in a centripetal direction c. After 120 s, the rim enhancement is further progressing in a centripetal direction to a partial fill-in d. Thus, this is an example of a CEUS examination that made US-guided biopsy superfluous.

Pediatric Transthoracic Cardiac Vector Flow Imaging – A Preliminary Pictorial Study 

Kristoffer Lindskov Hansen, Klaus Juul, Hasse Møller-Sørensen et al.

DOI: 10.1055/a-0656-5430

Conventional pediatric echocardiography is crucial for diagnosing congenital heart disease (CHD), but the technique is impaired by angle dependency. Vector flow imaging (VFI) is an angle-independent noninvasive ultrasound alternative for blood flow assessment and can assess complex flow patterns not visible on conventional Doppler ultrasound.

Fig. 2 Blood flow in the right a and left b ventricle. Frames are recorded on two healthy newborns in apical four-chamber view. The direction and velocity of the blood flow are given by the corresponding color maps and indicated by the superimposed vector arrows. rv = right ventricle, lv = left ventricle.

Gastric Emptying of Low- and High-Caloric Liquid Meals Measured Using Ultrasonography in Healthy Volunteers 

Tarek Mazzawi, Emily Bartsch, Sara Benammi et al.

DOI: 10.1055/a-0783-2170

Delayed gastric emptying is present in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), diabetes mellitus, and neurological diseases. Diet may affect gastric emptying symptoms in patients with FD. The authors sought to determine the extent to which gastric emptying and symptoms of dyspepsia are influenced by caloric content in healthy subjects using ultrasonography.

Fig. 3 Representative ultrasonography image (this image was taken 10 min after a low-caloric liquid meal). Landmarks: A: liver, B: superior mesenteric vein, C: gastric antrum and D: aorta.