title: Contrast enhanced ultrasound of renal diseases.
abstract: With the advent of microbubble contrast agents and contrast-specific techniques, contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) has become a powerful additional tool for radiological imaging. When microbubbles are administered intravenously, the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound (US) can approach those of computed tomography (CT) and magnetice resonance (MR) with the advantages of no radiation, lower cost and the possibility of their use in patients with renal failure or in intensive care units. Functional (perfusional) information can be obtained in addition to morphologic information, often making further imaging unnecessary. Nevertheless, CEUS requires expertise and adequate US equipment. In addition, subjects and organs unsuitable for US are also unsuitable for CEUS, which is not a panoramic imaging modality and consequently not a substitute for comprehensive whole-body imaging.
authors.affiliation: Emergency, Surgery and Transplants Department, Radiology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy. libero.barozzi@aosp.bo.it
authors.forename: Libero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barozzi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolotto
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavlica
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media