3D and 4D in Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound appears now as a well-assessed technique for the real-time evaluation of macro-and microvasculature of many organs, mainly including the liver, the kidney, the pancreas, the spleen and the heart. 3D acquisitions are usually performed by mechanical probe with a sector ranging from approximately 10 to 70 degrees, which allow appropriately covering of most organs. Companies now introduce specific contrast-modes on these probes, allowing evaluating a portion of or the whole organ vasculature at successive phases of enhancement. 4D acquisitions can be obtained by the repetition of 3D acquisitions, or directly by using matrix probes which work without any motion of elements and allow higher frame rates but with lower spatial resolution at the time. Post-treatment is an essential, often time-consuming phase to allow reconstruction in any plane, including those which could not be obtained from 2D modes. Quantitative studies include enhancement profiles analysis based on time-intensity curves and calculation of volume of focal lesions or any portion of an organ. Potential clinical applications include most of the indications that have already been developed with 2D imaging as a complement or potentially in the future as the contrast-enhanced ultrasound mode. Examples of lesions of the liver, kidney, spleen and pancreas will be shown to illustrate the potential of these techniques.