Ultraschall Med 2007; 28 - P_5_9
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989005

Possibilities and limitations of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) in an outpatient centre

R Kubale 1, D Clevert 2, W Krämer 3, EM Jung 4, G Walker 3, HP Weskott 5, A Büker 6
  • 1Institut für Radiologie, Pirmasens, Germany
  • 2Department of Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Ultrasonography Section, Munich, Germany
  • 3Internistische Gemeinschaftspraxis Pirmasens, Pirmasens, Germany
  • 4Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
  • 5Krankenhaus Siloah, Ultraschallabteilung, Hannover, Germany
  • 6Institut für diagnostische und interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany

Purpose: To evaluate possibilities and limitations of CEUS in an outpatient centre.

Methods: During 01/2006 and 03/2007 96 patients (range: 26–72 years) were examined with CEUS (Siemens Sequia with CPS/GE Logiq9 and SonoVue) in a radiological and a gastroenterological praxis. 56 cases had a liver lesion, 7 had tumors or infarction of the kidney. The quality of examination and their value were scored from 1–3.

Results: Good visibility of the interesting region was achievable in 89/96 cases. 12 FNH, 6 small HCCs, 15 metastases, and 6 hemangioma were diagnosed quickly by CEUS. 6/7 patients with focal fatty spots presumed to be a tumour in CT and/or US could be categorized as benign by contrast. 2/15 patients with normal liver in US and/CT showed metastases in CEUS. In kidney diseases CEUS was helpful in detecting small tumours and segmental infarctions.

2 liver tumors in segment 7 and 8 were not visible although their localisation was known from CT/US. One oncocytoma clearly seen in CT was not visible in CEUS.

Conclusions: CEUS for liver disease in private praxis is helpful for differentiating known solitary liver tumours and focal fatty areas with comparable results to MR. In patients with colon carcinoma (GIII, pT3, N1 or L1) additional CEUS ist mandantory for early detection of resectable metastases. For kidney and thoracic disease CEUS is still under evaluation.