INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND CONTRAST-MEDIA

Intravascular ultrasound contrast media are substances that increase t he echogenicity of blood, Although not yet completely explored, the cl inical applications of intravascular ultrasound contrast media are car diologic, such as for chamber opacification and myocardial perfusion i maging, the assessment of vascular diseases in general and the study o f tumor vessels, Gas-filled bubbles are the preferred echo-enhancing c ontrast media, Research in this field is concentrating on the creation of very small, stable and non-toxic bubbles, capable of surviving pul monary transit and appear into the left heart and peripheral vessels, Contrast provided by such media is visible on grey-scale images of the heart and also enhances Doppler signals, The potential clinical appli cations and the problems related to the creation of ultrasound contras t media suitable for clinical use are reviewed and illustrated by exam ples of contrast injections performed on patients.