To know the multiple applications of CEUS in adult abdominal pathology.

Ultrasound is in many cases the initial imaging test to be performed before the suspicion of pathology, because of its availability, its immediacy and its innocuousness. However, it has an important limitation, which is that in many cases its specificity is low and it is necessary to perform other imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the enhancement of the lesions, tissues or vascular structures to reach the diagnosis. The echographic contrasts have made the ultrasound take a...

The contrast we use to assess abdominal pathology is SonoVue, a second-generation contrast consisting of a suspension of microbubbles of sulfur hexafluoride contained in a biodegradable lipid capsule. The microbubbles have an average size of 3-4 μm, similar to that of a red globule, so that the contrast reaches all those places to which a red blood cell can access. Despite their small size, the bubbles are large when compared to the contrasts molecules used in CT and MR. Its distribution is purely intravascular, which...

The effectiveness of CEUS for the assessment of abdominal pathology is similar to CT and MRI in many situations. It is a non-invasive procedure with a very low incidence of adverse effects, which is not contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency or allergy to iodinated contrast. When the CEUS is carried out by radiologists who are experts, it can be very useful, avoiding unnecessary tests and providing essential information for the clinical management of patient.

1)``The EFSUMB Guidelines and Recommendations on the Clinical Practice of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS): update 2011 on non-hepatic applications´´. Piscaglia F,Nolsøe C,Dietrich CF et al. Ultraschall Med.2012 Feb;33(1):33-59. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1281676. Epub 2011 Aug 26. 2)``Guidelines and good clinical practice recommendations for contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the liver--update 2012: a WFUMB-EFSUMB initiative in cooperation with representatives of AFSUMB, AIUM, ASUM, FLAUS and ICUS´´. Claudon M,Dietrich CF,Choi BI et al. Ultraschall Med.2013 Feb;34(1):11-29. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1325499. Epub 2012 Nov 5. 3)``Aplicaciones de la ecografía con contraste en...