Prof. Dr. Fabian Kiessling – fkiessling@ukaachen.de
Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Hospital RWTH Aachen
Aachen, NRW 52074
Germany
Additional authors: Celine Porte, Zuzanna Magnuska, Thomas Lisson, Jannine Salewski, Susanne Fleig, Matthias Kohlen, Uta Kunter, Stefanie Dencks, Elmar Stickeler, Georg Schmitz
Popular version of 1aBA1 – Ultrasound Localization Microscopy (ULM) for the Characterization of Kidneys and Breast Cancer
Presented at the 188th ASA Meeting
Read the abstract at https://eppro01.ativ.me/appinfo.php?page=Session&project=ASAICA25&id=3868507&server=eppro01.ativ.me
–The research described in this Acoustics Lay Language Paper may not have yet been peer reviewed–
Super-resolution ultrasound is a technique for assessing the microvasculature of tissues. It achieves higher resolution than ultrasound detectors by using advanced methods to locate and track ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles). The latter are known from GPS or RADAR. This allows comprehensive characterisation of anatomical and functional features at the level of a single microvessel. Multiple features can then be obtained and used to identify vascular patterns. We can show that super-resolution ultrasound can predict which breast cancer patients will respond to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy and which will require a modified treatment plan, which is critical to their overall prognosis. In addition, in the kidney, we can visualise glomeruli (important functional units), the number of which indicates chronic kidney disease long before functional deficits occur. This would allow early treatment and could help to minimise the need for biopsies, which is currently the only method that can provide this information. In addition, we show that super-resolution ultrasound also provides valuable physiological information about kidney function. As breast cancer and chronic kidney disease are very common, a large population could benefit from the clinical implementation of super-resolution ultrasound imaging. In addition, many other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetic microvascular disease and cerebral ischaemia, are being investigated and may expand the application of this technology.
