Application of Contrast Agent in Ultrasound

Ultrasound 

Ultrasound imaging incorporates the ideas and concepts of the sound waves to significantly project the images of the inside organs of the body. With the use of this method, doctors can substantially determine the real nature and cause of the internal source of pain on patients. Moreover, the method can be used to determine the cause of pain and swellings of the inside body. However, there is a higher need to understand the exact point of infected body part significantly. The use of contrast agents is widely used to enhance visualization of the formed images within the body properly. Furthermore, the use of these agents facilitates or swiftness the rate of sound waves transformation from the body organs to the sensor that later decodes the waves and interprets them accordingly to project an image that physicians can assess and diagnose the magnitude of the pain caused. 

In this context, ultrasounds tend to be using a different mechanism that is contrary to other forms such as x-rays that uses ionizing radiation, through this, ultrasound engulfs the patient from radiation exposures. Furthermore, the images are captured in real-time to detect any movement, which makes it a suitable tool to observe the development and the changes made by the fetus during its early development stage. Through this, it is quite easy to detect and determine the gender and the period of the infants to the pregnant women. 

Microbubbles contrast agent 

The development of microbubbles was first described in 1968, that was used in the contrast phenomena during the oral cardiac catheterization, that was developed as a result of observation of the gas cavities that was as a result of injection of the sale solution ( Quaia, 2007 ). Since then, microbubbles have been considered as a significant aspect in the contribution on the ultrasound, which has a different chemical contribution that presents a range of 2 to 6 μm diameter. More so they are composed of a couple of different biopolymers layers such lipids and proteins. 

Methods. 

Contrast agent materials are regarded as safe drugs and can be applied in the body system through a couple of ways to ensure that they have safely introduced in the body system a step that aims to reduce the unusual reactions. 

The contrast agents can be introduced to the body system through the form of an injection into the veins and the arteries of the patient with the fluid spaces of the spine as well as applying in other body cavities ( Sidhu et al., 2016 ). However, the use of contrast material with the microbubbles is a more convenient method to carry out the activity as well as being a relatively inexpensive form that is used to enhance visualization of proper blood flow that does not primarily use radiation. 

How microbubbles work 

The resonation of a beam of the sound wave is the fundamental principle responsible for the necessary functionality and workability of the methods. The rapid expansion and contraction in response to the pressure emanating from the body, it helps determine the underlying conceptual feature of the way and the system. With this application, by fortunate, the response by the amount of frequency applied and emanating from the body organs it is used to diagnose ultrasound images. With the application of this concepts, the affected body part is illuminated several thousand more than the other body parts. With the aspect of incorporating and using this method, there is a more significant enhancement of both the grayscale images as well as proper improvement in the flow of the mediated doppler signals. With appropriate analysis of the produced resonance has entirely reasonable and practical benefits that offer specialize properties that are profoundly exploited from different angles which are used to enhance diagnostics of the patient’s condition. During the process, a couple of mixed harmonic signals are profoundly emitted that ultrasound scanners are used to concentrate the signals before they are differently interpreted, where the selective excitation has been severally used to destroy the microbubbles. However, this can also be useful in determining the therapeutical applications as well as giving a well-detailed image of the organs. 

General radiology in microbubbles 

Microbubbles are used to enhance an increase the intensity of the Doppler signals that emanate from the blood vessels after a short period of injection of the substance in the blood system of the patient. However, this can be used to bring more into vision the undiagnostic doppler examination that is done by increasing the intensity of the weaker signals into a higher level that can be detected easily in the system. By the use of the transcranial doppler in the adults, the method can be used to improve the detection of the flow of the intracranial arteries. In this aspect, the adult’s cranium attenuates the ultrasound signals emanating and received by the sensors. Furthermore, this is also used in the smaller blood vessels flow such as the circulation of the malignant tumor of the patient. 

Application to ultrasound 

Liver 

With a widespread magnitude of ultrasonography as a commonly used technique of imaging, it has triggered a shift in increased chances of detecting focal liver lesions (FLLs). More so, this is due to its low cost of the expense that is associated with the methods and procedures. In a healthy individual, the symptomatic features and the risk are always being ( Claudon, et al 2013 ). Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to reach into a more solution way with the adoption of a way that reduces the chances and means of exposure to the patient. Nevertheless, early characterization and manifestation of the liver cancer allows different measures of treatment to be taken into consideration, which is more suitable to increase the survival chances of the patient. The use of Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is the best adaptable means of addressing the issue. CEUS is a real-time technique that projects real images depending on the current circumstances in which the information is being sourced ( Tokuno, et al., 2003 ). Due to its ability to display the vascularity of the FLLs, which enhances the revelation of the developing tumor in the liver. 

Kidney 

Renal ultrasound is a widely and commonly used examination that is significantly used. Additionally, the kidneys are profoundly imaged with the MRI and CT. Through this, it is quite easy to instigate the renal pathology directly. However, this has a common consequence that is associated with the imaging of the other organs in the body. In this aspect, there is an excellent need to adopt and use the contrasting agents to ensure that the visualization of the other body organs is detected ( Dietrich et al 2012 ). Additionally, this can be done using the standard ultrasound scanning that enhances visualization of the kidneys. 

Vascular application 

Due to the compelling aspect of the noninvasive modality Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging offers a vast of numerous potential application in vascular medicine. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging has highly used microbubble contrast agent that is composed of the encapsulating shells which surround a gaseous core. With the use of the microbubbles, they act as the intervascular reflectors of the energy emanating from the ultrasound. Through this, they are used to enhance visualization and quality of the images produced 

Spleen 

Focal spherical abnormalities are always difficult to detect especially using the Doppler and the conventional greyscale. Through the clinical and laboratory information is added to enhance visualization, it is cumbersome to make a real diagnostic of the real problem subsequently. With the application of the Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), it is much easier to perform as well as providing more valuable information of the splenic abnormalities, which allows minute diagnosis to be made. Furthermore, it also identifies to those lesions which may require further biopsy or imaging (Huang et al., 2016). Primarily CEUS is indicated in the concept of confirming the magnitude of suspected accessorily in delicate splenic tissues and the proper selection or sorting of patients with abdominal trauma. 

Assessment of vesicoureteral reflux 

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is commonly referred to the abnormal flow of the urine to the upper urinary tract from the bladder. It is a more urologic disease that is common in childhood. Ultrasound is not a convenient means and method to treat vesicoureteral reflux endoscopic treatment. Subsequently, the role played by the ultrasound is minute, where its basic use is to identify the suspicion of the ectasia, to the group of patients who suffer from renoureteral pain. 

The contribution of Contrast agent pros 

The use of contrast agents is one of the most suitable fluids that profoundly is a shared resource that is widely used to diagnose kidney diseases such as the kidney stone. With the use of these agents. Kidney-stone is highly and well contextualized during the formation of the images required. 

Spleen 

Spleen uses a higher frequency to visibly deploy a well-crafted or structured image that can be well analyzed ( Piscaglia et al., 2011 ). With the use of contrast agents, the formed spleen image is brought into focus, and the affected parts are well seen or brought into proper visualization by the physician. Also, this opens the delicate tissue of the spleen for more diagnostic activities. However, the routine ultrasound that is conducted in the absence of the Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), the images generated are not displayed with more details that the physician can diagnose the real problem 

Liver 

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), is one of the breakthroughs in the medical field by the enhancement and application of the contrast agents (UCAs). With the use of contrast specific-techniques that are used to show the improvement of the liver lesions in a more diverse way, that is used to enhance imaging techniques ( Rossi et al., 2008 ). In the bottom line, the use of Contrast agent on the vascular application makes the whole process less time-consuming. As most of the targeted tissues and body organs are prepared to actively respond to the analysis by producing sufficient sound waves that are captured using different frequencies and interpreted to generate the required form of an image. With the use of the normal and regular ultrasound scanning, there is a lower probability of the malignancy. 

Side effects of using contrast Ultrasound 

The basic functionality of contrast agents is to play a vital role especially in the non-invasive techniques, that profoundly help in generation of clear analytical images. However, their Sid effects dictate and limit their purpose and usage in the functionality of the of the ultrasound performances. The Microbubbles are composed of two primary components that are used in this analysis. The outer shell is well designed to offers repulsive resistance to ultrasound destructions and the critical permeability to the gas. On the other side, it is made of the gaseous components such as the higher molecular. 

Contrast agents may result in the formation of suboptimal images particularly in obese patients who may be suffering from critical illness as well as patients suffering from lung disease. The injection of the agitated saline solution in the blood system that is aimed to produce and project the perfect images on the monitor subsequently provides a sequence of repeated formation of ethos that is formed as a result of liquid-gas creation that typically enhances the blood pool. However, their primary goal is to ensure the enhancement of the created images, the dissolving of these microbubbles is rapid on the blood a step that forces the blood to lose its echogenicity. Through this loss, they are unable to traverse to the pulmonary microcirculation. 

Conclusion 

In the bottom line, there is a greater significant change on the conducting of the ultrasound. Proper use of the contrast agents opens more narrowing of the images to more marginalized level. Despite their pros in limiting the functionality of their performance, their introduction posses a more accurate implication in giving more accurate results of the organs being focused on. 

References 

Claudon, M., Dietrich, C. F., Choi, B. I., Cosgrove, D. O., Kudo, M., Nolsøe, C. P., ... & Chaubal, N. G. (2013). Guidelines and good clinical practice recommendations for contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the liver–update 2012: a WFUMB-EFSUMB initiative in cooperation with representatives of AFSUMB, AIUM, ASUM, FLAUS and ICUS. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology , 39 (2), 187-210. 

Dietrich, C. F., Averkiou, M. A., Correas, J. M., Lassau, N., Leen, E., & Piscaglia, F. (2012). An EFSUMB introduction into Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (DCE-US) for quantification of tumour perfusion. Ultraschall in der Medizin-European Journal of Ultrasound , 33 (04), 344-351. 

Huang, D. Y., Yusuf, G. T., Daneshi, M., Husainy, M. A., Ramnarine, R., Sellars, M. E., & Sidhu, P. S. (2016). Contrast-enhanced US–guided Interventions: Improving Success Rate and Avoiding Complications Using US Contrast Agents. RadioGraphics , 37 (2), 652-664. 

Piscaglia, F., Nolsøe, C., Dietrich, C. A., Cosgrove, D. O., Gilja, O. H., Nielsen, M. B., ... & Claudon, M. (2011). The EFSUMB Guidelines and Recommendations on the Clinical Practice of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS): update 2011 on non-hepatic applications. Ultraschall in der Medizin-European Journal of Ultrasound , 33 (01), 33-59. 

Quaia, E. (2007). Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents: an update. European radiology , 17 (8), 1995-2008. 

Rossi, F., Leone, V. F., Vignoli, M., Laddaga, E., & Terragni, R. (2008). Use Of Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound For Characterization Of Focal Splenic Lesions. Veterinary radiology & ultrasound , 49 (2), 154-164. 

Sidhu, P. S., Cantisani, V., Deganello, A., Dietrich, C. F., Duran, C., Franke, D., ... & Piskunowicz, M. (2016). Role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in paediatric practice: an EFSUMB position statement. Ultraschall Med . 

Tokuno, E., Hirai, T., Takahashi, M., Ohishi, H., Sakaguti, S., Hirohashi, S., & Kitikawa, K. (2003). Evaluation of therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma by constrast-enhanced sonography. Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology , 29 (5), S187-S188.