[CEUS-application possibilities in the musculoskeletal system].

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Musculoskeletal System
• Ultrasound Technology

Background:

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) enables accessible, real-time visualization and quantification of skeletal muscle microcirculation and other tissues.
• CEUS offers a safe imaging modality with minimal side effects for in vivo applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the expanding applications of musculoskeletal CEUS.
• To present the diverse uses of CEUS beyond muscular microcirculation, including bone and joint imaging.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies utilizing CEUS in musculoskeletal applications.
• Analysis of CEUS performance in diagnosing conditions like inflammatory myopathies and assessing microcirculation in peripheral artery disease and diabetes mellitus.

Main Results:

• CEUS applications extend to osseous and muscular perfusion characteristics in orthopedics and traumatology.
• Studies explore CEUS for differentiating infected vs. aseptic non-unions and evaluating implant/prosthesis impact on muscle microcirculation.

Conclusions:

• Musculoskeletal CEUS is currently utilized in clinical trials or off-label, not yet standard clinical practice.
• The increasing number of applications suggests a potential future integration into routine clinical use.