Clinical Applications of Superb Microvascular Imaging in the Superficial Tissues and Organs: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) is an innovative Doppler technique for vascular examination. It uses an intelligent algorithm that efficiently separates low-speed flow signals from motion artifacts so that it can assess microvessels and the vessel distribution in detail. This article reviews the clinical applications of SMI in the disorders of superficial tissues and organs including thyroid nodules, breast tumors and lymph node diseases etc. More information of diseases that are closely associated with angiogenesis can be shown by SMI than other noninvasive examinations. Although some limitations exist, this safe and convenient technique is becoming acceptable and would play a more important role in disease diagnosis and therapeutic responses evaluation.

Keywords: Breast; Lymph node; Superb microvascular imaging; Testis; Thyroid.