Super-resolution contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SR-CEUS) in solid organs

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly common for multimodal radiological imaging to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) because of its high-resolution ultrasound techniques. CEUS has several advantages. It can be used repeatedly without affecting renal function or the thyroid gland. It is also considered to be highly accurate with regard to the diagnosis and detection of small solid liver lesions. In addition, it can be used to characterize solid lesions in other abdominal organs. With additional perfusion imaging and its (semi)quantitative analysis using wash-in and wash-out kinetics, therapies can be monitored. It is also frequently used in the assessment of solid tumors in the near field, such as thyroid tumors and lymph nodes. Super-resolution CEUS (SR-CEUS) is a novel imaging method with dynamic evaluation of microflow changes to the level of capillary structures. SR-CEUS could also open up new possibilities regarding the dynamic assessment of the micro-vascularization of solid abdominal organs and interventional procedures.
Citation Format
▪ Jung EM, Weber M, Jung F. Super-resolution contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SR-CEUS) in solid organs. Rofo 2025; DOI 10.1055/a-2754-0219

Zusammenfassung

Kontrastverstärkter Ultraschall (CEUS) wird aufgrund seiner hochauflösenden Ultraschalltechnik zunehmend in der multimodalen radiologischen Bildgebung eingesetzt. CEUS bietet mehrere Vorteile. Er kann wiederholt eingesetzt werden, ohne die Nierenfunktion oder die Schilddrüse zu beeinträchtigen. Er gilt zudem als hochpräzise in der Diagnose und Erkennung kleiner solider Leberläsionen. Darüber hinaus kann er zur Charakterisierung solider Läsionen in anderen abdominellen Organen eingesetzt werden. Mit zusätzlicher Perfusionsbildgebung und deren (semi)quantitativer Analyse mittels Ein- und Auswaschkinetik können Therapien überwacht werden. Superhochauflösender CEUS (super resolution (SR) CEUS) ist eine neuartige Bildgebungsform zur Erfassung dynamischer Veränderungen bis auf kapillare SR-CEUS und könnte zudem neue Möglichkeiten zur dynamischen Beurteilung der Mikrovaskularisierung solider abdominaler Organe und interventioneller Verfahren eröffnen.

Keywords

CEUS - SR-CEUS - microcirculation - solid internal organs

Publication History

Received: 16 April 2025

Accepted after revision: 20 November 2025

Article published online:
12 January 2026

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