Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in urology

In contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), micrometer-sized, encapsulated, gas-filled microbubbles are employed to enhance the signals in ultrasound imaging. Since the microbubbles remain intravascular, CEUS is able to visualize perfusion of various tissues. This is particularly useful for imaging malignancies of prostate and kidney, for example, as these exhibit altered perfusion behavior due to angiogenesis and neovascularization. CEUS can also be used to visualize the treatment effects of focal and ablative therapy. Current CEUS research focuses on its use for biopsy targeting and for diagnosis of renal abnormalities. Future advances are expected in the objective quantification of contrast enhancement, molecular imaging with so-called targeted microbubbles that specifically accumulate in the tissue of interest, and fusion techniques combining CEUS with CT or MRI. As a consequence, CEUS is gaining attention in current clinical practice.