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Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in pediatric echocardiography

  • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in children
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Abstract

The safety and benefits of cardiac contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) have been demonstrated in children and adolescents for a variety of clinical indications, including congenital heart disease. Cardiac CEUS is performed with US and the intravenous administration of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs). It improves transthoracic echocardiography, which can be challenging in children and adults with acoustic window limitations (e.g., from obesity) and alterations in chest wall and cardiac geometry (e.g., from prior surgical procedures). Cardiac CEUS is also used to evaluate ischemia in the follow-up of congenital and acquired heart disease. In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a UCA for pediatric echocardiography. This article focuses on the clinical applications of UCAs in pediatric and adult echocardiography, outlining its diagnostic value, safety and potential for future applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helen B. Taussig Heart Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans St., Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Shelby Kutty

  2. Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    David M. Biko

  3. Division of Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Alan B. Goldberg & Steven B. Feinstein

  4. Division of Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Michael D. Quartermain

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  1. Shelby Kutty
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  2. David M. Biko
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  3. Alan B. Goldberg
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  4. Michael D. Quartermain
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  5. Steven B. Feinstein
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Correspondence to Shelby Kutty.

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Dr. Feinstein is a speaker for GE Healthcare and Bracco Imaging. Dr. Kutty is a consultant for GE Healthcare.

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Kutty, S., Biko, D.M., Goldberg, A.B. et al. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in pediatric echocardiography. Pediatr Radiol 51, 2408–2417 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-021-05119-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-021-05119-3

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