Ultrasound Contrast Enhancement (CEUS)

Ultrasound contrast enhancement refers to the use of gas-filled microbubbles to improve the quality and diagnostic value of ultrasound imaging. These microbubbles act as contrast agents, increasing echogenicity within blood vessels or tissues, enhancing image clarity, and enabling precise assessment of organ perfusion, vascularity, and pathology. In advanced applications (targeted CEUS), these microbubbles can be functionalized with ligands that bind specific molecular markers on cells or tissues, allowing for targeted imaging at sites expressing those markers.

Other names

Contrast-enhanced ultrasoundMicrobubble contrast agents

Enhances acoustic backscatter during ultrasonography via high-echogenic gas core; optionally targets specific molecules if functionalized with binding ligands. The non-linear oscillation response of microbubbles under ultrasonic pressure allows for selective detection using specialized imaging techniques such as pulse/phase inversion or power modulation.