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Conclusion detection and staging of abdominal traumatic lesions compared to
US and CE-MDCT. Radiol Med. 2015;120(2):180–189. doi:10.1007/
cFAST has exciting potential to expedite triage, improve deliv- s11547-014-0425-9
ery of care, and optimize resource allocation in the deployed 10. Valentino M, De Luca C, Galloni SS, et al. Contrast-enhanced US
environment. Realizing the full potential of this technology evaluation in patients with blunt abdominal trauma(). J Ultrasound.
2010;13(1):22–27. doi:10.1016/j.jus.2010.06.002
requires studies of cFAST using the ultrasound systems cur- 11. Mihalik JE, Smith RS, Toevs CC, Putnam AT, Foster JE. The use of con-
rently available to far forward medical providers. An initial trast-enhanced ultrasound for the evaluation of solid abdominal organ
requirement for such studies is the development of methods injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. J Trauma Acute Care
Surg. 2012;73(5):1100–1105. doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e31825a74b5
for performing cFAST, which—at a minimum—require the use 12. Menichini G, Sessa B, Trinci M, Galluzzo M, Miele V. Accuracy of
of: (1) an appropriate ultrasound contrast agent, (2) at an ap- contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the identification and char-
propriate dose, (3) using an ultrasound system that can visual- acterization of traumatic solid organ lesions in children: a retro-
ize the contrast enhancement. While the GE Vscan Air shows spective comparison with baseline US and CE-MDCT. Radiol Med.
2015;120(11):989–1001. doi:10.1007/s11547-015-0535-z
promise, further investigation into all three of the foregoing 13. Piccolo CL, Trinci M, Pinto A, Brunese L, Miele V. Role of
factors is necessary before research into cFAST for deployed contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis and manage-
applications can commence in earnest. ment of traumatic splenic injuries. J Ultrasound. 2018;21(4):315–327.
doi:10.1007/s40477-018-0327-0
14. Catalano O, Aiani L, Barozzi L, et al. CEUS in abdominal trauma:
Author Contributions multi-center study. Abdom Imaging. 2009;34(2):225–234. doi:10.
MA, EJF, CAM, and DK contributed to obtaining the ultra- 1007/s00261-008-9452-0
sound images. MA, CAM, and DK served as standardized 15. Di Serafino M, Iacobellis F, Schillirò ML, et al. The technique and
patients. CAM, CEA, and DB contributed to the editing. MA advantages of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis and fol-
was a major contributor to the conception, design, research, low-up of traumatic abdomen solid organ injuries. Diagnostics (Ba-
sel). 2022;12(2):435. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12020435
analysis, writing, and editing of this publication. All authors 16. Sutarjono B, Kessel M, Alexander D, Grewal E. Is it time to re-think
read and approved the final manuscript. FAST? A systematic review and meta-analysis of Contrast-Enhanced
Ultrasound (CEUS) and conventional ultrasound for initial assessment
of abdominal trauma. BMC Emerg Med. 2023;23(1):8. doi:10.1186/
Disclaimer s12873-023-00771-4
The views expressed in this case report are those of the authors 17. Lv F, Tang J, Luo Y, et al. Emergency contrast-enhanced ultrasonog-
and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Depart- raphy for pancreatic injuries in blunt abdominal trauma. Radiol Med.
ment of the Army, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government. 2014;119(12):920–927. doi:10.1007/s11547-014-0410-3
18. Kocik VI, Borgman MA, April MD, Schauer SG. A scoping review of
two decades of pediatric humanitarian care during wartime. J Trauma
Disclosures Acute Care Surg. 2023;95(2S Suppl 1):S170–S179. doi:10.1097/TA.
The authors have nothing to disclose. 0000000000004005
19. Schauer SG, April MD, Hill GJ, Naylor JF, Borgman MA, De Lorenzo
RA. Prehospital interventions performed on pediatric trauma patients
Funding in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018;22(5):624–629.
No funding was received for this work. doi:10.1080/10903127.2018.1439130
20. Naylor JF, April MD, Thronson EE, Hill GJ, Schauer SG. U.S. military
medical evacuation and prehospital care of pediatric trauma casual-
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78 | JSOM Volume 26, Edition 1 / Spring 2026

