Letter to the Editor on the Article: “Clinical Applications of Contrast-Enhanced Thoracic Ultrasound (CETUS) Compared to Standard Reference Tests: A Systematic Review” by Jacobsen N et al.

Dear Editor,

Jacobsen N et al. [1] have published in this journal an interesting systematic literature review of the clinical application of contrast-enhanced thoracic ultrasound (CETUS). CETUS is a real-time ultrasound technique evaluating tissue perfusion using an injected suspension of gas microbubbles that enhances the echogenicity of the intravascular ‘blood pool’. Registered indications in Europe for ultrasound contrast agents use are cardiac, macrovascular, liver and breast lesions [2] [3]. Despite the fact that a role for CETUS in lung diseases is still far from established, its use for US-guided interventional procedures and noninvasive characterization of lung subpleural lesions has been proposed.

Publication History

Article published online:
31 July 2020

• References

• 1 Jacobsen. et al. Ultraschall in Med 2020; DOI: 10.1055/a-1143-3141.
• 2 Dietrich CF, Nolsøe CP, Bar RG. et al. Guidelines and Good Clinical Practice Recommendations for Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the Liver – Update 2020 – WFUMB in Cooperation with EFSUMB, AFSUMB, AIUM, and FLAUS. Ultraschall in Med 2020; DOI: 10.1055/a-1177-0530.
• 3 Sidhu PS, Cantisani V, Dietrich CF. et al The EFSUMB Guidelines and Recommendations for the Clinical Practice of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in Non-Hepatic Applications: Update 2017 (Long Version). Ultraschall in Med 2018; 39: e2-e44 . doi:10.1055/a-1177-0530
• 4 West JB, Luks A. West’s Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials. ; 9^th Edition 2012. Wolters Kluwer Ed
• 5 Quarato. et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020; 11: 365
• 6 Findeisen. et al. Ultraschall in Med 2019; 40: 603-608