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Increasing CEUS utilization in the USA: a call to action for the adult and pediatric body imaging community

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Abstract

Despite its well-established benefits and a powerful body of scientific literature supporting the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), it has faced challenges in being fully adopted as a diagnostic and problem-solving tool within the USA. This effort, written by experts in performance of and interpretation of CEUS, acts as a roadmap, for those interested in expanding CEUS within their facility. CEUS benefits from a Champion who is knowledgeable and passionate about its performance and who is capable of transferring evidence-based enthusiasm to others. They must be willing to do the legwork required for the successful implementation of a CEUS program, including increasing referrals, expanding applications, and encouraging the inclusion of CEUS into current and established guidelines. The ability of CEUS to resolve a wide range of indeterminate results which come from CT and MR scan represents one of the most compelling arguments for the use of CEUS, decreasing down-stream testing, and reducing time to diagnosis. As utilization grows, the benefits of CEUS will become apparent to other healthcare teams. However, the ultimate beneficiary of improved CEUS utilization will be the patients themselves, who will have greater access to a safe, speedy, cost effective, reliable, and radiation-free diagnostic imaging tool.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Radiology and Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Foothills Medical Center, University of Calgary, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada

    Stephanie R. Wilson

  2. Foothills Medical Center, University of Calgary, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada

    Christina D. Merrill

  3. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Kassa Darge

  4. Division of Body Imaging, Department of Radiology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [CHOP], 34th Street & Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4399, USA

    Kassa Darge

  5. Northeastern Ohio Medical University, 4209 St, Rootstown, OH, 44272, USA

    Richard G. Barr

Authors
  1. Stephanie R. Wilson
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  2. Christina D. Merrill
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  3. Kassa Darge
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  4. Richard G. Barr
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Contributions

SRW: Equipment support Philips, Siemens, and Samsung. Lantheus—Advisory panel. Philips Ultrasound—Speakers Bureau. CDM—no disclosure. KD: Bracco Diagnostics—Speakers Bureau and advisory panel. RGB: Philips Ultrasound—Speakers Bureau, research grant, and advisory panel. Siemens Ultrasound—Speakers Bureau and research grant. Canon Ultrasound—Speakers Bureau and research grant. Mindray Ultrasound—Speakers Bureau and research grant. Samsung Ultrasound—Speakers Bureau, research grant, and advisory panel. Hologic Ultrasound—Research grant and advisory panel. Bracco Diagnostics—Speakers Bureau and advisory panel. Lantheus—Advisory panel. GE Medical—Research grant. Thieme Publishers—Royalties. Elsevier Publishing—Royalties.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephanie R. Wilson.

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All authors are members of the board of the International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS).

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Wilson, S.R., Merrill, C.D., Darge, K. et al. Increasing CEUS utilization in the USA: a call to action for the adult and pediatric body imaging community. Abdom Radiol 48, 418–423 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-022-03686-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-022-03686-z

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