Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in urology

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging modality that uses small intravascular encapsulated gas-filled microbubbles to enhance the ultrasound signal. As it is known that malignancies are associated with neovascularization that influences perfusion, CEUS has the potential to visualize malignancies of, for example, the prostate and kidney. Furthermore, CEUS perfusion imaging can also be used to image perfusion defects after ablative treatments. Current CEUS research is focusing on quantification of contrast enhancement and molecular imaging with so-called targeted bubbles, and it is expected that these developments will become available for clinical use in the near future. Targeted bubbles conjugated with drugs could make ultrasound targeted therapies a reality. Fusion imaging by combining CEUS with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging will result in imaging platforms that combine the best of the different imaging modalities.