Impact of European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) guidelines on the use of contrast agents in liver ultrasound

Abstract

The introduction of microbubble contrast agents and the development of contrast-specific techniques have opened new prospects in liver ultrasound. Over the past few years several reports have shown that contrast ultrasound can substantially improve detection and characterization of focal liver lesions with respect to baseline studies. The advent of second-generation agents and low mechanical index real-time scanning techniques has been instrumental in improving the easiness and the reproducibility of the examination. With the publication of the guidelines for the use of contrast agents in liver ultrasound by the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB), contrast ultrasound enters into clinical practice. The guidelines define the indications and recommendations for the use of contrast ultrasound in focal liver lesion detection, characterization, and follow-up after tumor ablation procedures. We discuss the impact of EFSUMB guidelines on diagnostic protocols currently adopted in liver imaging.