title: Intravenous ultrasound contrast agents versus other imaging methods in pediatric patients with neoplastic diseases - a comparison.
abstract: The lack of registration of ultrasound contrast agents for use in patients below the age of 18 is a significant limitation of their usage. Despite this, examinations with the use of contrast agents are conducted in numerous centers, mainly as part of the diagnostic process of vesicoureteral reflux. Examinations after an intravenous administration of contrast agents are conducted rarely. The reason for this is not only the lack of registration, but also the lack of studies on their safety profile in paediatric patients or no guidelines concerning the dosage. It seems that imaging with the use of such agents could help solve certain clinical problems when other diagnostic methods fail. The paper presents selected cases of pediatric patients treated in oncological departments, in whom the examination with the use of ultrasound contrast agents had a considerable influence on the diagnostic and therapeutic process.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Radiologii, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, Gdańsk, Polska.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piskunowicz
authors.affiliation: Klinika Pediatrii, Hematologii, Onkologii i Endokrynologii Dziecięcej, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, Gdańsk, Polska.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kosiak
authors.affiliation: Klinika Pediatrii, Hematologii, Onkologii i Endokrynologii Dziecięcej, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, Gdańsk, Polska.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Batko
authors.affiliation: Klinika Pediatrii, Hematologii, Onkologii i Endokrynologii Dziecięcej, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, Gdańsk, Polska.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adamkiewicz-Drożyńska
authors.affiliation: Zakład Radiologii, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, Gdańsk, Polska.
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szarmach
keywords: CEUS; contrast agents; oncology; pediatric patients; ultrasound