Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in interventional oncology

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Interventional Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has advanced with bioengineered microbubbles, offering improved stability.
• CEUS agents possess a favorable safety profile, lacking hepatic/renal toxicities and radiation exposure.
• While approved for echocardiography, off-label uses in interventional radiology are expanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a narrative review of the emerging roles of CEUS in interventional oncology.
• To highlight CEUS applications beyond diagnostic characterization.
• To discuss the potential of CEUS in guiding oncologic interventions.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature on CEUS in interventional oncology.
• Discussion of diagnostic and interventional applications of CEUS.
• Exploration of novel uses such as lymph node mapping.

Main Results:

• CEUS aids in characterizing focal solid organ lesions (hepatic, renal).
• Real-time CEUS enhances biopsy guidance, ablation therapy, and post-treatment tumor viability assessment.
• Emerging applications include lymph node mapping and sentinel lymph node localization.

Conclusions:

• CEUS is a valuable tool in interventional oncology, improving diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic guidance.
• Its safety profile and real-time capabilities make it suitable for various oncologic interventions.
• Further research is needed to fully explore and validate novel CEUS applications in oncology.