title: [Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of the liver : Critical evaluation of use in clinical routine diagnostics].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Focal liver lesions are common incidental findings in abdominal ultrasound diagnostics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Characterization of focal liver lesions solely based on b‑mode and color duplex is not feasible in all cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) it is possible to dynamically visualize the vascularization of focal liver lesions, which enables the characterization of benign and malignant liver tumors. The advantages of CEUS are that ultrasound contrast media do not show renal, hepatic or cardiac toxicity and do not influence the thyroid gland. The approach by fusion of CEUS and contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging combines the advantages of both imaging modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using CEUS focal liver lesions can be characterized with a diagnostic accuracy greater than 90%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of CEUS has become an important imaging modality to evaluate unclear liver lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of CEUS provides vital information as a supplement to cross-sectional imaging and it has become an important tool in therapy planning, control and monitoring of malignant liver lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Radiologie, Interdisziplinäres Ultraschall-Zentrum, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, München, Deutschland. Katharina.Muellerpeltzer@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Müller-Peltzer
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Radiologie, Interdisziplinäres Ultraschall-Zentrum, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rübenthaler
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Radiologie, Interdisziplinäres Ultraschall-Zentrum, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Radiologie, Interdisziplinäres Ultraschall-Zentrum, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: D-A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Clevert
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Focal liver lesions; Fusion imaging; Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Radiofrequency ablation (RFA); Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)