CEUS in the study of bladder, method, administration and evaluation, a technical note

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Ultrasound
• Oncology

Background:

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) utilizes ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) to visualize microvasculature, overcoming limitations of traditional ultrasound.
• CEUS enhances conventional B-mode and Doppler sonography for improved diagnostic capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a science-based technique for executing urinary bladder CEUS.
• To delineate key elements for accurate contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the bladder.

Main Methods:

• Describes the technical execution of urinary bladder CEUS.
• Utilizes perfusion software for quantitative contrast enhancement analysis.
• Generates time-intensity curves from regions of interest for detailed analysis.

Main Results:

• Normal bladder wall exhibits specific wash-in, time to peak (TTP), signal intensity (SI), and wash-out times.
• Low-grade urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) shows distinct perfusion parameters compared to normal tissue.
• High-grade UCC demonstrates significantly different perfusion characteristics, including higher SI, aiding in differentiation.

Conclusions:

• CEUS is a valuable tool for accurate bladder urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) characterization.
• Standardized terminology and classification are recommended to enhance understanding and avoid misinterpretation.
• Further adoption of standardized protocols will improve the clinical utility of CEUS in bladder cancer diagnosis.