FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW ECHOGRAPHIC CONTRAST AGENT

The intravenous injection of an ultrasound contrast agent can enhance signals from blood flow. Broad toxicological and pharmaceutical studie s in animals confirmed the safety and efficacy of an ultrasound contra st agent made of microparticles of galactose with stabilised microbubb les in watery suspension (SH U 508 A). In this paper 10 patients with different malignant orbital and ocular tumours have been evaluated wit h an echo colour Doppler machine before and after the injection of SH U 508 A. An enhancement of the Doppler signals in the lesions in diffe rent degrees has been detected. This echographic contrast agent seems to be very important not only in the evaluation of vascular lesions, b ut also in evaluating the effectiveness of radio-therapy in malignant tumours and could spread the echographic indications in several other ophthalmic fields.