Carlos Nicolau MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Rafael Angel Gomez, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Leonor Hernandez, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Manuel Reus, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Montserrat Poch Zatarain, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Julian Fernandez Ramos, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) diagnostic performance in the clinical practice in Spain.

603 patients (mean age= 59.8 years) from 21 hospitals, with baseline US studies that were considered inconclusive, were included in this multicentre study. We evaluated 518 (85.9%) abdominal cases [including 441 livers (73.1%), 58 kidneys (9.6%), 25 spleens (4.1%), 18 pancreas (3%), and 30 in other abdominal locations (5.2%)], 36 breast studies (6.5%), 39 supraaortic vessels studies (6%) and 10 in other locations (1.6%). All studies were performed using a specific contrast software and the intravenous injection of SonoVue® (Bracco, Italy) (mean dosis of 3 mL). A low mechanical index <0.2 was used in most cases. Results of CEUS studies were compared with the definite diagnosis by reference procedures.

Only 1 patient (0.001%) was excluded due to contraindications. Most studies (82.8%) were evaluated with a single dose of contrast agent and the mean time employed to perform the CEUS study was 7.8 minutes. CEUS use determined a significant improvement in the diagnosis confidence in 89.7% of cases, allowing a conclusive diagnosis in 71% of patients. The highest accuracy was obtained in supraaortic vessels evaluation, with a conclusive diagnosis in 94.7% of the cases, followed by a 73.4% of the abdominal cases.

The use of CEUS provided a significant improvement on clinical practice with an accurate diagnosis in most of the inconclusive baseline US studies.

Contrast enhanced US is a very useful tool in the clinical practice because it can achieve an accurate diagnosis in most of the inconclusive baseline US studies.

Nicolau, C, Gomez, R, Hernandez, L, Reus, M, Poch Zatarain, M, Fernandez Ramos, J, Current State of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Use in the Clinical Practice: A Multicentre Spanish Experience.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6017127.html