In modern medicine, the term echogenicity is quite often used. This is the ability of the tissues of the human body to varying degrees to reflect ultrasonic waves. These properties of organs are widely used for diagnostic purposes - with the help of special ultrasound equipment, you can study the features of the structure and functioning of a particular organ.
Of course, many people are interested in more information. What is the working principle of ultrasonic equipment? What can increased tissue echogenicity indicate? How to decipher the results of ultrasound? The answers to these questions will be useful to many.
Echogenicity - what is it?
First of all, it is worth understanding the basic terms. Ultrasound examination of organs is based on the principle of echolocation. Tissues are exposed to ultrasound. In turn, different organs reflect waves differently, depending on the structure andfabric density.
Echogenicity is a property of tissues that allows them to reflect ultrasonic waves. It is this reflection that is displayed on the screen in the form of a black and white picture. By studying the echogenicity of a particular organ, the doctor can make assumptions about its functioning, the presence of structural changes, anomalies, diseases.
Types of echogenicity
How exactly does a doctor assess the state of organs during an ultrasound? Echogenicity may vary:
- Isoechogenicity is the norm. During the examination, tissues are displayed in gray on the screen.
- Hypoechogenicity is reduced echogenicity. Objects look much darker than they should.
- Hyperechogenicity - indicates an increase in echogenicity. The fabrics are dyed light gray or white.
- Anechoic - echo negativity. This term refers to the absence of echogenicity. Black structures are visible on the screen.
During the study, the nature of the color of a particular organ is taken into account. The term "homogeneity" means the presence of a uniform color. For example, normal echogenicity of the liver parenchyma should be homogeneous. Heterogeneity, respectively, means non-uniform coloring of the object. If the liver parenchyma is heterogeneous, then this may indicate cirrhosis or other diseases.
Hyperechogenicity and its causes
The denser the organs, the higher their echogenicity. For example, scars, inflamed tissues, areas of fat accumulation, deposits of calcium s alts onimages are darker. Hyperechogenicity of the parenchyma of certain organs indicates a decrease in the amount of fluid. In turn, dehydration can lead to:
- hormonal disorders;
- failures in metabolic processes;
- malnutrition (primarily affects the state of the pancreas);
- bad habits (drugs, alcohol, smoking);
- trauma, inflammation and other pathological processes in the tissues of the organ.
Echogenicity of the pancreas is increased: what is it?
It's not a secret for anyone that in case of suspicion of certain diseases of the pancreas, the patient is first prescribed ultrasound. What can be learned using such equipment? What does it mean if the echogenicity of the pancreas is increased? What is it and should I be concerned about it?
Hyperechogenicity of this organ may indicate the following pathologies:
- Hyperdensity of the pancreatic parenchyma is observed in the presence of edema, inflammation, tumors. Sometimes such changes are associated with increased gas formation, increased pressure in the portal system of the liver, the formation of stones and calcium deposits in the ducts of the gland.
- Increased diffuse echogenicity is often observed against the background of chronic pancreatitis and is associated with tissue scarring. If the size of the gland does not change, then this may indicate the development of diabetes.or replacing normal tissues with fat.
It is worth noting that the increase in echogenicity may be temporary. For example, such a change in density may be associated with:
- reactive inflammation in many infections, including diseases such as pneumonia and influenza;
- changing the type of food consumed, malnutrition;
- lifestyle change, intense physical activity.
Why is echogenicity below normal?
Other ultrasound results are possible. For example, some tissues and structures appear light on the machine's screen. This indicates a low acoustic density of the examined organ.
If the echogenicity of tissues is reduced, then this may indicate the formation of a cyst (there is fluid inside the formation), tumors or fibroadenomas.
Hypoechogenicity of the pancreas and its causes
If the echo density of an organ decreases, this may indicate the presence of dangerous problems.
- For example, metastases appear on the screen as hypoechoic structures with fuzzy contours (they do not occupy the entire parenchyma of the organ).
- A cyst is a small formation of a homogeneous structure with an even contour and low density.
- If several areas with low echogenicity have formed in the parenchyma of an organ, this may indicate the development of a fibrolipomatous process or hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
- Cancer can also be diagnosed with ultrasound equipment. The tumor ishypoechoic structure with thin outgrowths. In this case, the blood flow is not visualized, the large vessels of the gland are displaced, and the size of the pancreas increases.
Hypoechogenic liver
What does low liver density indicate? Normally, the parenchyma of the organ has a uniform gray structure. What if deviations happen?
- The presence of rounded nodules with low echogenicity may indicate cirrhosis.
- If there is a small formation with even contours in the parenchyma, then it is likely that the patient has a cyst.
- A thrombus has the appearance of an oval or elongated (but rounded) inclusion of small size with a loose echo structure.
- If areas with different echogenicity and uneven contours have formed in the parenchyma, an abscess may be present. Sometimes small gas bubbles can be seen on the screen.
- Adenoma has a homogeneous structure, low echo density and smooth edges.
- But a malignant tumor looks like a patch of heterogeneous structure. Possible presence of calcifications, as well as hemorrhage. Symptoms include changes in the size or structure of local lymph nodes.
What does anechoicity indicate?
As already mentioned, echogenicity is the property of human tissues to reflect ultrasonic waves. But there is also such a term as anechoic. Echo-negative organs are not capable of reflecting ultrasound and appear as black areas on the screen.
In most cases, the presence of blacksmudges on the monitor screen is not dangerous. For example, liquid does not reflect ultrasonic waves. However, sometimes anechogenicity indicates the presence of serious pathologies, including cystic formations or malignant tumors.
Presence of anechoic areas in the liver parenchyma
What can the altered structure of the liver indicate? Echogenicity is absent (tissues do not reflect ultrasonic waves) in many cases. Here are the most typical pathologies that can be detected during ultrasound:
- Oval or round black formation on the screen may indicate the presence of a simple cyst in the liver tissue;
- the presence of echo-negative structures that connect to the branches of the portal vein of the liver indicates vasodilation;
- a pulsating black structure that communicates with an artery could be an aneurysm;
- rounded black formation with echogenic channels and walls indicates the presence of an echinococcal cyst.
How to decipher the results of thyroid ultrasound?
In the process of diagnosing any diseases of the thyroid gland, the results of ultrasound are of great importance. If during the procedure an increased echogenicity of the organ was detected, then this may indicate:
- endemic goiter, which is associated with iodine deficiency in the body;
- toxic goiter;
- autoimmune thyroiditis;
- subacute inflammation of the thyroid gland.
Of coursethe decrease in echo density also has its own reasons:
- formation and growth of the cyst;
- presence of vascular formation;
- cancers (occurs in no more than 5% of cases).
Sometimes, during the examination, an anechoic formation is found in the tissues of the gland. Such a structure might be:
- true cyst (has a rounded shape and smooth contours);
- pseudocyst (a small inclusion of a flocculent structure, its walls are often formed by glandular tissues);
- adenoma;
- colloidal cyst.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor needs to take a complete history and familiarize himself with the results of laboratory tests.
Renal examination
Studying the echogenicity of the kidneys is also very informative. Should I be worried if areas with increased echo density were identified during the procedure?
- If the size of the kidneys is increased, and the echogenicity is increased (while the density of the pyramids is reduced), then this may indicate the development of diabetic nephropathy.
- Against the background of glomerulonephritis (especially if a severe form of the disease develops), a diffuse, uniform increase in echo density is observed.
- If there is a hyperdense area in the homogeneous parenchyma of an organ, this may indicate the formation of calcifications, kidney infarction, myeloma, the presence of a malignant tumor.
- Increased echogenicity of the renal sinus may indicate the presence of endocrine and metabolic disorders,inflammatory processes.
Sometimes, during the study, an area with hypoechogenicity is found in the parenchyma of the kidney, which looks like a lighter spot on the monitor. This may indicate the presence of:
- cysts (formation has a homogeneous structure, clear and even boundaries);
- tumors, including malignant ones (the detected tumor has a heterogeneous structure and fuzzy contours, sometimes there is an increase in retroperitoneal lymph nodes).
The presence of neutral (anechoic) areas also sometimes signals the presence of dangerous diseases.
- Simple cyst. An anechoic inclusion (usually small in size) with thin walls and smooth edges can be seen on the screen.
- Secondary cyst. In the tissues of the organ there is an irregularly shaped formation with heterogeneous echogenicity. As a rule, such structures are located next to scar tissue.
- Polycystic. Multiple echo-negative neoplasms can be found in both kidneys.
- Cancer. A malignant tumor, as a rule, does not have black contours. A variety of inclusions are often present inside the neoplasm.
- Perirenal hematoma. The contours of the affected kidney in this case do not change. However, an irregularly shaped anechoic structure can be seen nearby.
- Renal abscesses. In the parenchyma of the kidney are small inclusions with fuzzy contours. As a rule, vessels against the background of an abscess are not visualized.
Conclusion
Exploring the echogenicity of this or thatbody, you can get a lot of useful information. However, ultrasound results alone are not enough to make an accurate diagnosis.
The interpretation of the results depends on many factors, including the characteristics of the clinical picture, the age and lifestyle of the patient, the presence of certain concomitant diseases, so this process can only be entrusted to the attending physician. In any case, when making a diagnosis and drawing up a treatment regimen, the results of other tests, in particular laboratory tests, are taken into account.
