title: Contrast enhanced ultrasound in the assessment of urogenital pathology.
abstract: Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an innovative technique that employs microbubble contrast agents to demonstrate parenchymal perfusion. Although initial clinical application was focused on the liver pathology, a wide variety of clinical conditions can be assessed now with CEUS. CEUS is a well-tolerated technique and is acquiring an increasing role in the assessment of renal pathology because contrast agents are not excreted by the kidney and do not affect the renal function. CEUS demonstrated an accuracy similar to contrast enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (CEMDCT) in detecting focal lesions, with the advantage of the real-time assessment of microvascular perfusion by using time-intensity curves. The aim of this paper is to review the main indications of CEUS in the assessment of renal and urogenital pathology. Imaging examples are presented and described. Advantages and limitations of CEUS with reference to conventional US and CE-MDCT are discussed.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Radiology Unit, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna. libero.barozzi@ausl.bologna.it.
authors: Libero
authors: L
authors: Barozzi
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Capannelli
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Imbriani
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media