ECHO ENHANCERS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING

The quality of diagnostic ultrasound images is sometimes limited by ex cessive acoustic attenuation within the organs and tissues. Ultrasound echo-enhancers help to overcome that limitation by increasing the int ensity of the reflected signal. Acoustic principles dictate that the m ost effective enhancers are gas-filled microbubbles. The problem of pr oducing a microbubble suspension stable enough for routine clinical us e has been overcome in several ways. Newer developments are leading to enhancers with an active acoustic response and that have affinities f or specific organs and tissues. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.