title: [Contrast media in echography].
abstract: In medical US, the use of specific contrast media to increase the echogenicity of structures and organs changes their absorption of the US beam, and modifies the through-transmission velocity. This can be of great diagnostic value. Contrast media can help depict vessels and cavities, increase the sensitivity of Doppler examination, and make the differentiation of normal and pathologic tissues easier. The products which are currently available do not completely fulfill the needs of clinical researchers. The first papers reporting on some clinical applications of these contrast media in humans are now appearing in literature. Contrast media for diagnostic US can be classified in five groups: 1) free gas bubbles; 2) stabilized gas bubbles; 3) colloidal suspensions; 4) emulsions; 5) aqueous solutions. These agents are quite different, as to both chemical and physical features and distribution within living tissues. Different clinical applications are thus possible for each of them; a unique contrast medium which will meet all the needs of the various clinical situations seems inconceivable at present. Most probably, a variety of products will develop, each with its own application field; in clinical practice, it seems likely that different products will be used, according to the specific clinical needs.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Radiologia, Università, Genova.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Derchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzatto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solbiati
mesh_terms: D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
vernacular_title: I mezzi di contrasto nell'ecografia.