Thematic Section Chairperson 1 Introduction F. Piscaglia – C. Nolsøe 2 Generalities D. Cosgrove 3 Equipment H. P. Weskott 4 Investigator’s training O. H. Gilja 5 Terminology F. Piscaglia 6 Safety G. ter Haar 7 Paediatric C. Nolsøe 8 Pancreas M. D’Onofrio 9 Endoscopic CEUS C. F. Dietrich 10 Gastrointestinal tract O. H. Gilja 11 Spleen O. Catalano 12 Kidney M. Bertolotto 13 Vesicoureteral reflux M. Bertolotto 14 Scrotum P. S. Sidhu 15 Abdominal Trauma O. Catalano 16 Lung and pleural lesions G. Mathis 17 Vascular D. Clevert 18 Cerebral vessels G. Seidel 19 Inflammatory joint diseases A. S. Klauser 20 Intracavitary A. Ignee 21 Lymphnodes M. Hocke 22 Tumour response assessment E. Leen 23 Breast D. Cosgrove 24 Adrenals H. P. Weskott 25 Emerging CEUS applications and future perspectives A Gynecology D. Timmerman B Perineum C. F. Dietrich C Urinary Bladder F. M. Drudi D Transplanted Kidney M. Bertolotto E Prostate Cancer J. M. Correas F Aorto-caval fistula D. Clevert G Free Tissue Transplants E. M. Jung H Extrahepatic Biliary System C. F. Dietrich 26 Use of CEUS in patients with renal failure J. M. Correas – T. Albrecht 27 Technical Appendix F. Piscaglia – C. Nolsøe

The updated version of the EFSUMB guidelines on the application of non-hepatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) deals with the use of microbubble ultrasound contrast outside the liver in the many established and emerging applications.

Initially, a set of guidelines for the use of ultrasound contrast agents was published in 2004 dealing only with liver applications. A second edition of the guidelines in 2008 reflected changes in the available contrast agents and updated the guidelines for the liver, as well as implementing some non-liver applications. Time has moved on, and the need for international guidelines on the use of CEUS in the liver has become apparent. The present document describes the third iteration of recommendations for the hepatic use of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using contrast specific imaging techniques. This joint WFUMB-EFSUMB initiative has implicated experts from major leading ultrasound societies worldwide. These liver CEUS guidelines are simultaneously published in the official journals of both organizing federations (i.e., Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology for WFUMB and Ultraschall in der Medizin/European Journal of Ultrasound for EFSUMB). These guidelines and recommendations provide general advice on the use of all currently clinically available ultrasound contrast agents (UCA). They are intended to create standard protocols for the use and administration of UCA in liver applications on an international basis and improve the management of patients worldwide.

“How to perform contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)” provides general advice on the use of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) for clinical decision-making and reviews technical parameters for optimal CEUS performance. CEUS techniques vary between centers, therefore, experts from EFSUMB, WFUMB and from the CEUS LI-RADS working group created a discussion forum to standardize the CEUS examination technique according to published evidence and best personal experience. The goal is to standardise the use and administration of UCAs to facilitate correct diagnoses and ultimately to improve the management and outcomes of patients.

The updated version of the EFSUMB guidelines on the application of non-hepatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) deals with the use of microbubble ultrasound contrast outside the liver in the many established and emerging applications.