Hybrid ultrasound imaging techniques (fusion imaging)

Figure 1 The probe and the magnetic sensor are assembled with careful attention to the positions of the orientation marks.

Figure 2 The left liver lobe ultrasound and computed tomography images are visualized at the same time in real-time virtual sonography.

Figure 3 A 65-year-old male patient with liver metastases. The workstation monitor displays the ultrasound and computed tomography images in real-time.

Figure 4 Real-time virtual sonography of liver nodules with simultaneous display of the contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance section and ultrasound images. 2D (A), Power Doppler (B), and contrast enhanced ultrasound (C) vs the reconstructed corresponding image.

Figure 5 Single hepatocellular carcinoma (3 cm) nodule in a cirrhotic patient. In real-time virtual ultrasonography, after contrast agent injection, a progressive and intense enhancement is observed in the arterial phase (A), followed by wash-out in the tardive phase (B), on contrast-enhanced ultrasound, versus corresponding contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images.

Figure 6 Real-time virtual sonography showing multiple metastases, better depicted on contrast-enhanced computed tomography as compared with ultrasound. A nodule in nodule aspect is visualized with excellent correlation on both contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance and real-time ultrasound.