Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in pediatric interventional radiology

There is growing interest in the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in diagnostic and interventional radiology. CEUS applications in interventional radiology are performed with intravascular or intracavitary administration of microbubble-based US contrast agents to allow for real-time evaluation of their distribution within the vascular bed or in body cavities, respectively, providing additional information beyond gray-scale US alone. The most common interventional-radiology-related CEUS applications in children have been extrapolated from those in adults, and they include the use of CEUS to guide lesion biopsy and to confirm drain placement in pleural effusions and intra-abdominal fluid collections. Other applications are emerging in interventional radiology for use in adults and children, including CEUS to optimize sclerotherapy of vascular malformations, to guide arthrography, and for lymphatic interventions. In this review article we present a wide range of interventional-radiology-related CEUS applications, emphasizing the current and potential uses in children. We highlight the technical parameters of the CEUS examination and discuss the main imaging findings.

Automated summary

CEUS is increasingly used in diagnostic and interventional radiology, providing real-time evaluation of microbubble-based US contrast agents. Applications in children include lesion biopsy guidance and confirmation of drain placement in fluid collections, with emerging uses in both adults and children for sclerotherapy, arthrography, and lymphatic interventions. Technical parameters and imaging findings are discussed in this review article.