[Recent advances in contrast-enhanced ultrasound for oncology applications]

Abstract

The combined use of high-end ultrasound units and sonographic contrast agents provide valuable information for lesion characterization and follow-up of patients under targeter treatments, especially oncologic patients. Early published results for liver pathology have created a place for this technique as a reference method leading to the publication of European guidelines. New oncologic applications have emerged over the last several years for lesions accessible by ultrasound with varied diagnostic value based on each target organ. Contrast-enhanced sonography is rapidly gaining ground for the follow-up of patients under targeted treatment, physical or drug induced, with major implications for the validation of concepts, and management of patients based on reliable early evaluation of therapeutic response to treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review recent advances in this field of sonographic imaging to better understand the role of ultrasound in oncologic pathology.