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Multi-timescale Microscopy Methods for the Characterization of Fluorescently-labeled Microbubbles for Ultrasound-Triggered Drug Release
Published on: June 12, 2021
Ultrasound contrast agents: an overview
1Imaging Sciences Department, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom. d.cosgrove@csc.mrc.ac.uk <d.cosgrove@csc.mrc.ac.uk>
European Journal of Radiology
|August 30, 2006
Summary
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with microbubbles revolutionizes diagnostic imaging by enabling dynamic visualization of blood flow. This technology offers high resolution and real-time assessment for various clinical applications, improving diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Diagnostic Ultrasound
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Diagnostic ultrasound has advanced with microbubble contrast agents, enabling dynamic detection of macro and microvasculature.
- Microbubbles expand and contract with ultrasound pressure waves, unlike incompressible tissues, allowing for signal separation.
- Specialized software and low acoustic pressures (MI<0.3) permit real-time, non-destructive scanning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the expanding clinical roles of contrast-enhanced ultrasound scanning.
- To detail the advantages of ultrasound in liver lesion detection compared to CT and MRI.
- To explore the utility of microbubbles in assessing microcirculation across various medical fields.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing microbubble contrast agents with diagnostic ultrasound.
- Employing special software with multiple pulse sequences to separate microbubble signals from tissue.
- Performing scans at low acoustic pressures (MI<0.3) for real-time, non-destructive imaging.
Main Results:
- Established use in echocardiography for endocardial border detection and myocardial perfusion.
- High spatial and temporal resolution in radiology, particularly for liver lesions, outperforming CT in certain scenarios.
- Demonstrated sensitivity comparable to three-phase CT for liver metastases detection.
- Effective in evaluating tissue devitalization after interstitial ablation and potential in abdominal trauma assessment.
- Promising results in detecting neovascularization in malignancies (ovarian carcinomas) and other conditions like atheromatous plaques.
Conclusions:
- Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with microbubbles represents a significant advancement in diagnostic imaging.
- Its applications are rapidly expanding, offering superior or comparable diagnostic capabilities to other modalities in various clinical settings.
- The technology provides valuable insights into microcirculation, aiding in the diagnosis and management of diverse pathologies.
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