Super-resolution contrast-enhanced ultrasound: recent advances

Super-resolution (SR) contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a novel sub-diffraction imaging modality that surpasses the diffraction limitations of conventional ultrasound and enables visualization of intricate microvascular architectures. SR CEUS provides improved quantification of hemodynamics and enhanced visualization of microvessels, thereby overcoming several inherent limitations of traditional CEUS. Initially demonstrated for imaging microvessels in the brains of small animals, SR CEUS has subsequently been investigated in multiple fields, including oncology, nephrology, and neurological research, with applications reported in breast cancer, chronic liver disease, and lymph node evaluation. However, clinical translation remains limited by prolonged acquisition times resulting from suboptimal microbubble detectability and the requirement for diluted contrast agents. This review summarizes the technical principles, clinical applications, current limitations, and future directions of SR CEUS from a clinical perspective.