Imaging pediatric patients calls for modalities that are rapid and reduce or eliminate radiation exposure. As such, ultrasound is an exceedingly important modality in pediatric radiology. Ultrasound can be used for a large variety of indications and provides clinicians and radiologists with a real-time, point of care evaluation without radiation exposure. Grey scale and color Doppler ultrasonographic images do have some limitations including an inability to accurately define vasculature or detect/characterize lesions in solid organs. Fortunately, contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is now available for use in the United States. Ultrasound contrast agents are gas-filled microbubbles that are injected into the systemic vasculature that appear echogenic on grey scale ultrasound. Contrast enhanced ultrasound allows for more precise visualization of vasculature, determination of relative blood flow, and enhanced visualization of solid organs and lesions. The availability of CEUS provides pediatric radiologists with a powerful new tool for the evaluation of a variety of pathologies that traditionally required high radiation computed tomography or lengthy magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2017 Annual Meeting & Categorical Course , 2017

Authors: Bailey Christopher, Hwang Misun

Keywords: Contrast enhanced ultrasound, Trauma, Neurologic