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. 2013 Jul 15;5 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S9.
doi: 10.1186/2036-7902-5-S1-S9. Epub 2013 Jul 15.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in blunt abdominal trauma

Lucio Cagini  1 , Sabrina Gravante, Corrado Maria Malaspina, Elviro Cesarano, Melchiorre Giganti, Alberto Rebonato, Paolo Fonio, Michele Scialpi
Affiliations

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in blunt abdominal trauma

Lucio Cagini et al. Crit Ultrasound J. .

Abstract

In the assessment of polytrauma patient, an accurate diagnostic study protocol with high sensitivity and specificity is necessary. Computed Tomography (CT) is the standard reference in the emergency for evaluating the patients with abdominal trauma. Ultrasonography (US) has a high sensitivity in detecting free fluid in the peritoneum, but it does not show as much sensitivity for traumatic parenchymal lesions. The use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) improves the accuracy of the method in the diagnosis and assessment of the extent of parenchymal lesions. Although the CEUS is not feasible as a method of first level in the diagnosis and management of the polytrauma patient, it can be used in the follow-up of traumatic injuries of abdominal parenchymal organs (liver, spleen and kidneys), especially in young people or children.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Spleen. Contrast-enhanced CT in venous phase (a), US-B-mode (b) and CEUS (c) in a 40 year- male patient with blunt abdominal trauma. CT shows a splenic hypodense parenchymal lacerative area (a) not recocognizable by US B-Mode examination (b). CEUS demonstrate splenic hypoechoic lesion corresponding to that of CT.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Liver. Contrast-enhanced CT in venous phase (a), US-B-mode (b) and CEUS (c) in a 67 year-old male patient with blunt abdominal trauma. CT shows a epatic hypodense intra-parenchymal traumatic area (a) not recocognizable by US B-Mode examination (b). CEUS demonstrate epatic hypoechoic lesion corresponding to that of CT.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kidney. Contrast-enhanced CT in venous phase (a), US-B-mode (b) and CEUS (c) in a 72 year-old female patient with blunt abdominal trauma. CT shows a renal subcapsular haematoma (a) recocognizable by US B-Mode examination (b).and CEUS corresponding to that of CT.
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