A review of ultrasound contrast media

Abstract

There have been numerous attempts over the past 50 years to develop efficient ultrasound contrast media (UCM) for both cardiac and noncardiac uses. In other words, the first UCM was created in the 1980s as a result of early reports from the 1960s documenting the findings of ultrasound contrast enhancement by microscopic gaseous bubbles during echocardiographic tests. A nontoxic UCM (Definity, Optison, Sonazoid, and SonoVue are some of the current commercial contrast media for echography that have shown promise in a range of on- and off-label clinical purposes) that may be injected intravenously, travels through the pulmonary, cardiac, and capillary circulations, and is stable for recirculation would be ideal. Many potential UCMs have been developed or are currently being worked on. The understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological behavior of microbubbles has greatly advanced in increase tumor vascularity, highlight sites of ischemia, and improve the ability to see vascular stenosis. Future potential, like ultrasonic molecular imaging and therapeutic uses of microbubbles, are anticipated to benefit from new inventive advancements.