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Update and Direction of Ultrasonic Contrast Agents

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Contrast Harmonic Imaging in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatic Tumors

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Abstract

At present, Levovist is the only commercially available ultrasonic contrast agent in Japan. It is based on galactose and palmitic acid forming microbubbles which produces harmonic signals under ultrasonic pressure. In addition, Definity, Optison, and NC 100/100 are also now being investigated in Japan (Table 20–1). It has been reported that these contrast agents do not need intermittent transmission because they are propane fluoride agents, and clear images can be visualized in near-real time in combination with pulse inversion harmonics. Contrast technique using ordinary B-mode equipment has also been studied. Therefore, a contrast effect may be obtained to a certain extent by using existing old B-mode equipment. NC 100/100 has a high deposit affinity for Kupffer cells or the endothelial cells of sinusoids and a promising application of this agent is the postvascu-lar phase sweep scan 5 or 10 min after administration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, 589-8511, Osaka, Japan

    Masatoshi Kudo MD, PhD (Professor and Chairman)

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  1. Masatoshi Kudo MD, PhD
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© 2003 Springer Japan

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Kudo, M. (2003). Update and Direction of Ultrasonic Contrast Agents. In: Contrast Harmonic Imaging in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatic Tumors. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-65904-4_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-65904-4_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-65906-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-65904-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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