Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of the abdominal vasculature

• Published in: Abdominal imaging Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 934 - 947
• Main Authors: Rafailidis, Vasileios, Fang, Cheng, Yusuf, Gibran T., Huang, Dean Y., Sidhu, Paul S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abdomen - blood supply; Abdomen - diagnostic imaging; Aneurysms; Aorta; Blood vessels; Cardiovascular system; Complications; Contrast agents; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Endovascular Procedures; Evaluation; Flow visualization; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Humans; Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microbubbles; Pathology; Pictorial; Pictorial Essay; Portal vein; Radiology; Thromboembolism; Thrombosis; Transplantation; Trauma; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography - methods; Ultrasound; Vascular diseases; Vascular Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Vascular Diseases - pathology; Vascular Diseases - therapy; Aorta; Portal vein; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Trauma; Endoleak; Aneurysm
• ISSN: 2366-004X; 2366-0058
• DOI: 10.1007/s00261-017-1329-7

Vascular diseases account for a significant proportion of abdominal pathology and represent a common referral source for abdominal ultrasonographic examinations. B-mode, color Doppler, and spectral Doppler analyses are well-established in the evaluation of abdominal blood vessels although they may occasionally be limited by lower sensitivity for slow flow visualization or the deeper location of abdominal vascular structures. The introduction of microbubbles as ultrasonographic contrast agents has rendered contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), a valuable complementary ultrasonographic technique, which is capable of addressing clinically significant problems and guiding patient management. The purpose of this pictorial review is to analyze the use of CEUS in the evaluation of abdominal vascular pathology and illustrate such applications by presenting representative images. Pathology discussed includes abdominal aortic aneurysm, post-endovascular treatment aorta, portal vein thrombosis, abdominal vascular trauma, and organ transplantation along with its complications.