Clinical applications of ultrasound contrast agents.
Within the last decade safe and practical ultrasound contrast agents have been introduced. Most of these are based on gas-filled microbubbles, which markedly enhance Doppler signals and, in some cases, also gray-scale images. The clinical improvements expected from ultrasound contrast is reviewed. Tissue-specific contrast agents constitute another area of potential clinical significance. One particular agent is taken up by the reticulo-endothelial system and produces so-called acoustic emission signals when imaged. An introduction to the unique clinical applications of acoustic emission is given. Harmonic imaging is a new contrast-specific imaging modality, which utilizes the nonlinear properties of some agents in an attempt to alleviate current limitations of ultrasound contrast studies. Examples of harmonic images are presented.
Forsberg
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Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. forsberg@esther.rad.tju.edu
Merton
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DA
Liu
J B
JB
Needleman
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L
Goldberg
B B
BB
D000162:Acoustics; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015195:Drug Design; D004452:Echocardiography; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media; D005740:Gases