Episode 49 – CEUS Outside the Heart

• Describe the composition, mechanism of action, and pharmacokinetics of microbubble ultrasound enhancing agents, and explain the roles of mechanical index and thermal index in the safe performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
• Discuss the safety profile of ultrasound enhancing agents relative to iodinated and gadolinium-based agents, including considerations in pregnancy, the absence of tissue deposition, and comparative environmental impact.
• Apply contrast-enhanced ultrasound washout and arterial phase enhancement criteria to characterize incidental liver lesions and to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma in at-risk patients, including how the degree and timing of washout distinguish HCC from non-HCC malignancies.
• Describe the contrast-enhanced ultrasound evaluation of indeterminate renal lesions, including differentiation of simple and complex cysts from solid enhancing renal neoplasms and the current status of Bosniak criteria at CEUS.
• Identify emerging procedural and quantitative applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound — including needle and drain guidance, fistulography, antegrade pyelography, and perfusion analysis — and discuss the workflow, staffing, and championing strategies that support implementation of a CEUS service line.

The content of this SDMS CME symposium is intended for healthcare professionals including Sonographers, Imaging Nurses, Administrators, Researchers, and Others.

This SDMS CME activity has been planned and submitted for approval of 1.00 hour of SDMS CME Credit Category AE by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS).

Release Date: TBD | Expires: TBD

Participants may claim only one type of credit for this educational activity.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures:
As an accredited provider of continuing medical education, Northwest Imaging Forums, Inc. (NWIF) ensures balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its educational activities. In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, all faculty and planners are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies within the last 24 months. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated by NWIF to ensure the integrity of the CME activity. The planner has nothing to disclose.