Related Experiment Videos
Low contrast dose voiding urosonography in children with phase inversion imaging
Andrea Kopitzko1, Daniel Cornely, Klaus Reither
1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
European Radiology
|July 3, 2004
Summary
Phase inversion ultrasound (PIUS) offers stronger, longer contrast enhancement for voiding urosonography (VUS) in diagnosing vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). This advanced technique allows for a significant reduction in contrast agent dose and cost.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric imaging
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Urology
Background:
- Voiding urosonography (VUS) with microbubble contrast agents is an alternative for diagnosing vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).
- Phase inversion ultrasound (PIUS) is a novel microbubble-specific imaging technique.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if PIUS offers advantages over fundamental ultrasound in VUS.
- To determine if PIUS allows for a reduction in contrast agent dosage.
Main Methods:
- Forty-three children with suspected VUR underwent baseline ultrasound, VUS with Levovist (fundamental and PIUS), and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG).
- Comparison of contrast enhancement and VUR detection between fundamental US and PIUS was performed.
- Contrast agent dose was recorded and compared to standard recommendations.
Main Results:
- PIUS demonstrated stronger and longer-lasting contrast enhancement compared to fundamental US in all cases.
- VUR was detected in 21/92 kidney-ureter units (23%); PIUS identified 18, fundamental 14, and VCUG 16.
- PIUS allowed for an approximate 35% reduction in contrast agent dose and cost.
Conclusions:
- VUS using PIUS provides superior contrast enhancement and slightly improves VUR detection.
- PIUS facilitates a reduction in contrast agent dose and associated costs for VUR diagnosis.