Research Article: The Use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the Evaluation of the Neonatal Brain
Abstract:
In recent years, advancements in technology have allowed the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasounds (CEUS) with high-frequency transducers, which in turn, led to new possibilities in diagnosing a variety of diseases and conditions in the field of radiology, including neonatal brain imaging. CEUSs overcome some of the limitations of conventional ultrasounds (US) and Doppler USs. It allows the visualization of dynamic perfusion even in the smallest vessels in the whole brain and allows the quantitative analysis of perfusion parameters. An increasing number of articles are published on the topic of the use of CEUSs on children each year. In the area of brain imaging, the CEUS has already proven to be useful in cases with clinical indications, such as hypoxic-ischemic injuries, stroke, intracranial hemorrhages, vascular anomalies, brain tumors, and infections. We present and discuss the basic principles of the CEUS and its safety considerations, the examination protocol for imaging the neonatal brain, and current and emerging clinical applications.
Introduction:
An ultrasound (US) is a type of medical imaging that is commonly used in pediatric radiology due to its multiple advantages for the imaging of young patients. Besides the traditional use of USs in the assessment of abdominal organs and other soft tissues, the open anterior fontanelle in neonates allows the evaluation of the brain. Cranial USs have become a primary screening tool for detecting intracranial pathologic conditions in infants [1]. Technical advancements, such as the use of high-frequency transducers,…
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