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Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of cystic and solid renal lesions: a review

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Abstract

Incidentally detected renal lesions have traditionally undergone imaging characterization by contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CECT) or magnetic resonance imaging. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of renal lesions is a relatively novel, but increasingly utilized, diagnostic modality. CEUS has advantages over CECT and MRI including unmatched temporal resolution due to continuous real-time imaging, lack of nephrotoxicity, and potential cost savings. CEUS has been most thoroughly evaluated in workup of complex cystic renal lesions, where it has been proposed as a replacement for CECT. Using CEUS to differentiate benign from malignant solid renal lesions has also been studied, but has proven difficult due to overlapping imaging features. Monitoring minimally invasive treatments of renal masses is an emerging application of CEUS. An additional promising area is quantitative analysis of renal masses using CEUS. This review discusses the scientific literature on renal CEUS, with an emphasis on imaging features differentiating various cystic and solid renal lesions.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported in part by award number P30CA014089 from the National Cancer Institute, which provided institutional infrastructure support only. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Keck USC School of Medicine, 1500 San Pablo Street, 2nd Floor Imaging, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Mittul Gulati, Kevin G. King, Vivian Pham, Edward Grant & Vinay A. Duddalwar

  2. Department of Urology, Keck USC School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Inderbir S. Gill

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  1. Mittul Gulati
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Correspondence to Mittul Gulati.

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Gulati, M., King, K.G., Gill, I.S. et al. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of cystic and solid renal lesions: a review. Abdom Imaging 40, 1982–1996 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-015-0348-5

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