[Ingestive contrast medium (sonographics) in abdominal ultrasonography. In-vitro and in-vivo studies]

In-vitro tests of new ingestive contrast media (known as "sonographics") are reported. A catalogue comprising 6 points for standards of an "ideal" sonographicum is outlined by systematic comparison to echogenicity of liver parenchyma in n = 49 healthy persons. Preliminary clinical tests show significant improvement of diagnostics in the upper abdomen; however problems do exist in the evaluation of these contrast media, too: Different echogenicities of sonographics can serve variable aims in diagnostic ultrasonography. Simultaneous application of several transducers may enable complete cross-sections of the human torso as in CT, based on further evaluation of ingestive contrast media.