title: Current and potential renal applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
abstract: The combination of microbubble technology and complementary ultrasound techniques has resulted in the development of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and, although initial clinical applications largely focussed on the liver, these are now becoming more diverse. With regard to the kidney, it is a safe, well-tolerated, and reproducible technique, and in selected cases, can obviate the need for computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. A clear advantage is the absence of nephrotoxicity. With respect to the current and potential renal applications, it is a useful technique in the evaluation of pseudotumours, acute pyelonephritis, renal tumours, cystic lesions, vascular insults, and renal transplantation. It may also be of value for monitoring the kidney following anti-angiogenic treatment or nephron-sparing interventional techniques for renal tumours. Assessment of microvascular perfusion using time-intensity curves is also likely to have further far-reaching applications in the kidney as well as other organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McArthur
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Baxter
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D045423:Microbubbles; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride