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Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of liver lesions in children

Alexander M El-Ali1,2, James C Davis1,2, Jennifer M Cickelli2

  • 1Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Pediatric Radiology
|October 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) offers improved pediatric liver lesion characterization. This safe, FDA-approved imaging technique enhances diagnostic accuracy for focal liver lesions, especially in pediatric oncology.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Conventional ultrasonography (US) is a primary tool for pediatric liver imaging due to its safety and accessibility.
  • However, conventional US has limitations in specificity for characterizing liver lesions compared to CT/MRI.
  • Recent FDA approval of an intravenous US contrast agent offers a new avenue for definitive diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the safety and efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for pediatric liver lesion characterization.
  • To discuss the role of CEUS in evaluating focal liver lesions, particularly in pediatric oncology.
  • To outline basic CEUS techniques and interpretation principles for liver imaging.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on contrast-enhanced ultrasound in pediatric liver imaging.
  • Focus on safety data, technical aspects, and diagnostic performance of CEUS.
  • Analysis of CEUS utility in differentiating common focal liver lesions.

Main Results:

  • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) demonstrates an excellent safety profile for pediatric use.
  • CEUS significantly improves the specificity and characterization of pediatric liver lesions compared to conventional US.
  • CEUS plays a crucial role in the evaluation of focal liver lesions, especially in pediatric oncology patients.

Conclusions:

  • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a safe and effective tool for definitive diagnosis of pediatric liver lesions.
  • CEUS enhances diagnostic accuracy, complementing conventional US, CT, and MRI.
  • CEUS is particularly valuable in the pediatric oncology population for precise lesion evaluation.

Keywords:
ChildrenContrast-enhanced ultrasoundLesionLiverOncology

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