title: Role of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Follow-up of Kidney Transplant Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contrast-enhanced ultrasound combines the advantages of native ultrasound and other contrast-enhanced imaging modalities. In selected cases it can be preferable to computerized tomographic scan among kidney transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study involving patients of Semmelweis University Department of Transplantation and Surgery who underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination from 2011 to 2015. During this period, 251 examinations were performed, including 45 on kidney transplant patients. A Toshiba Aplio XU ultrasound device was used, and 1-1.5 mL contrast agent (Sonovue) was administered intravenously for each patient. The indications of these evaluations can be divided into 3 groups: characterization of circumscribed kidney lesions, control after radiofrequency ablation therapy, and examination of graft perfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fully 93% of the examinations were conclusive. In the 1st group of the 37 cases where tumor-suspect lesions were investigated, 13 examinations suggested the presence of a space-occupying lesion. Of those 13 cases, 2 patients had a negative biopsy, nephrectomy was performed in 11 cases, and histologic evaluation verified a tumor in 8 samples. In the 2nd group, the ablation control examination detected a residual tumor in none of the 6 cases. Finally, in 1 of the 2 grafts where the circulation was investigated, blood flow was satisfactory, and in the other it was low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination was conclusive in most cases. The applied contrast material is not nephrotoxic, and the method uses nonionizing radiation. These features make contrast-enhanced ultrasound highly suitable for the examination of kidney transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: kordadavid@t-online.hu.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Korda
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: P Á
authors.initials: PÁ
authors.lastname: Deák
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kozma
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride