Information form the Image Recognition PowerPoint

Organ Parenchyma

The functional tissues or cells of an organ or gland

Echo Texture

The characteristic pattern or structure of organ parenchyma as seen during an ultrasound (how smooth or coarse an organ's tissue appears)

Echogenicity

The characteristic ability of a tissue or substance to reflect sound waves and produce echoes (How bright or dark an organ appears)

Homogeneous

Having a uniform composition throughout (normal organ parenchyma is homogenous)

Heterogeneous

Not having uniform quality throughout

Hyperechoic

Echoes brighter than surrounding tissues

Hypoechoic

Echoes are not as bright as the surrounding tissues

Isoechoic

Echoes appear the same as surrounding tissues

Anechoic

Free of echoes (tend to be filled with fluid and appear to have black interior/lumens with echogenic walls)

What does frequency depend on?

Size, muscle, and fat composition of the patient

Most common frequencies:

2.25 - 7.5 MHz

Increased frequency means

Decreased penetration

Decreased frequency means

increased penetration

What 2 scanning planes are generally used?

Transverse and sagittal (longitudinal)

Where is the raised notch positioned during sagittal scanning?

Toward the patient's head

If the patient is supine during sagittal scanning, how is the ultrasound beam entering the body?

Anterior to posterior

Where is the raised notch positioned during transverse scanning?

Toward the patient's right side

If the patient is supine during a transverse scan, how is the ultrasound beam entering the body?

Anterior to posterior

Where is the pancreas located?

Retroperitoneum

The pancreas is divided into what 4 parts?

Head, neck, body, and tail

What is the echogenicity of the pancreas?

Slightly less than surrounding soft tissues, and slightly more than the liver.

What are some characteristics of the aorta?

Tubular structure with anechoic lumen and echogenic walls

What are some characteristics of the inferior vena cava?

Anechoic lumen with echogenic walls, and is compressible

Is the liver normally homogeneous or heterogeneous?

Homogeneous

What echo texture does the liver have?

Smooth

What are normal liver measurements?

15-17 cm

What is considered an enlarged liver?

Over 18 cm

What can be visualised on a sonogram of the liver?

Thin-walled hepatic veins and brightly reflective portal veins (anechoic tubes)

How does the gallbladder appear on a sonogram?

Anechoic, pear-shaped sac, echogenic walls (size and shape can very between patients)

What 3 parts is the gallbladder divided into?

Neck, body, and fundus

What is the general size of the gallbladder?

7-10 cm long, and about 3 cm in diameter

How do the bile ducts appear on a sonogram?

Sonolucent tube with echogenic walls

Where can the common bile duct be found?

Anterior and to the right of the portal vein in the region of the porta hepatis

Where are the kidneys located?

In the retroperitoneum

What are the measurements of a kidney?

9-12 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 2.5 cm thick

How does the renal parenchyma or cortex appear?

Hypoechoic

How does the renal sinus appear?

Echogenic

How does the urinary bladder appear?

Sonolucent with echogenic walls

How does the spleen appear?

Fine, smooth, homogeneous, with low-level echo pattern

What is the normal size of a spleen?

8-12 cm in length

What are the 3 layers of the uterus?

Serosa, myometrium, and endometrium

Which of the 3 layers of the uterus can be imaged?

The myometrium and the endometrium

What are some characteristics of the myometrium?

homogeneous echotexture with smooth-walled borders

What are some characteristics of the endometrium?

Changes with the menstrual cycle and varies from hypoechoic to hyperechoic

What are some characteristics of the ovaries?

Ovoid in shape with medium level echogenicity

In the ovaries, what may be seen peripherally in the cortex?

follicular cysts

What changes the appearance of the ovaries?

Age and menstrual cycle