title: Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound for quantification of tissue perfusion.
abstract: Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) imaging, a technique that uses microbubble contrast agents with diagnostic US, has recently been technically summarized and reviewed by a European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology position paper. However, the practical applications of this imaging technique were not included. This article reviews and discusses the published literature on the clinical use of dynamic contrast-enhanced US. This review finds that dynamic contrast-enhanced US imaging is the most sensitive cross-sectional real-time method for measuring the perfusion of parenchymatous organs noninvasively. It can measure parenchymal perfusion and therefore can differentiate between benign and malignant tumors. The most important routine clinical role of dynamic contrast-enhanced US is the prediction of tumor responses to chemotherapy within a very short time, shorter than using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. Other applications found include quantifying the hepatic transit time, diabetic kidneys, transplant grafts, and Crohn disease. In addition, the problems involved in using dynamic contrast-enhanced US are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Karl-Olga-Krankenhaus Stuttgart, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Ulm, Germany (E.F.); Tropical Health Solutions Pty, Ltd, and Anton-Breinl Center, James Cook University, Townsville City, Queensland, Australia (R.M.); Sino-German Research Center of Ultrasound in Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China, and Department of Internal Medicine II, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Würzburg, Bad Mergentheim, Germany (X.-W.C., D.S.-D., C.F.D.).
authors.forename: Eckhart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Karl-Olga-Krankenhaus Stuttgart, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Ulm, Germany (E.F.); Tropical Health Solutions Pty, Ltd, and Anton-Breinl Center, James Cook University, Townsville City, Queensland, Australia (R.M.); Sino-German Research Center of Ultrasound in Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China, and Department of Internal Medicine II, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Würzburg, Bad Mergentheim, Germany (X.-W.C., D.S.-D., C.F.D.).
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Karl-Olga-Krankenhaus Stuttgart, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Ulm, Germany (E.F.); Tropical Health Solutions Pty, Ltd, and Anton-Breinl Center, James Cook University, Townsville City, Queensland, Australia (R.M.); Sino-German Research Center of Ultrasound in Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China, and Department of Internal Medicine II, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Würzburg, Bad Mergentheim, Germany (X.-W.C., D.S.-D., C.F.D.).
authors.forename: Xin-Wu
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Karl-Olga-Krankenhaus Stuttgart, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Ulm, Germany (E.F.); Tropical Health Solutions Pty, Ltd, and Anton-Breinl Center, James Cook University, Townsville City, Queensland, Australia (R.M.); Sino-German Research Center of Ultrasound in Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China, and Department of Internal Medicine II, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Würzburg, Bad Mergentheim, Germany (X.-W.C., D.S.-D., C.F.D.).
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schreiber-Dietrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Karl-Olga-Krankenhaus Stuttgart, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Ulm, Germany (E.F.); Tropical Health Solutions Pty, Ltd, and Anton-Breinl Center, James Cook University, Townsville City, Queensland, Australia (R.M.); Sino-German Research Center of Ultrasound in Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China, and Department of Internal Medicine II, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Würzburg, Bad Mergentheim, Germany (X.-W.C., D.S.-D., C.F.D.). christoph.dietrich@ckbm.de.
authors.forename: Christoph F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dietrich
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D045423:Microbubbles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: bolus protocol; guidelines; infusion protocol; perfusion quantification; therapy monitoring; ultrasound contrast agents; vascular ultrasound