Ultrasound: Contrast agents add new dimension to sonography
November 1st 1997Microbubbles of air or other gases are ideally suited as echo-enhancers because of two factors: The high difference in acoustic impedance at gas fluid/tissue interfaces provides strong acoustic backscatter; and gas microbubbles approximately 1 to 5 microns in size resonate in the acoustic beam at frequencies used in diagnostic ultrasound. This "lucky coincidence" substantially increases the echo-enhancing potential of microbubbles.