title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for imaging blunt abdominal trauma - indications, description of the technique and imaging review.
abstract: Patients with blunt abdominal trauma are initially imaged with ultrasound (US) for the evaluation of free abdominal fluid. However, lacerations of solid organs can be overlooked. Although computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard technique for abdominal trauma imaging, overutilization, ionizing radiation, need to transport the patient and potential artifacts are well known disadvantages. Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) can be used as an imaging tool between the two methods. It can easily and reliably reveal solid abdominal organ injuries in patients with low-energy localized trauma and decrease the number of CT scans performed. It can be rapidly performed at the patient's bedside with no need for transportation. There are only very few contraindications and anaphylactoid reactions are extremely rare. Altogether, CEUS has proved to be very helpful for the initial imaging of traumatic lesions of the liver, kidney and spleen, as well as for patient follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Evangelismos Hospital, 5 Dorylaiou, Athens, Greece. ddcokkinos@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cokkinos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antypa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tserotas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kostaras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parlamenti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tavernaraki
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Piperopoulos
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media