In modern medicine, the term echogenicity is often used. This is the ability of the tissues of the human body to some extent reflect ultrasonic waves. These properties of organs are widely used for diagnostic purposes - using special ultrasound equipment, you can study the structural features and functioning of a particular organ.
Of course, many people are interested in additional information. What is the principle of operation of ultrasonic equipment? What can the increased echogenicity of tissues indicate? How to decipher the results of ultrasound? Answers to these questions will be useful to many.
What is echogenicity?
To begin with, it’s worth understanding the basic terms. Ultrasound examination of organs is based on the principle of echolocation. The tissues are affected by ultrasound. In turn, different organs reflect waves in different ways, depending on the structure and density of tissues.
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 one or another organ, the doctor can make assumptions regarding its functioning, the presence of structural changes, anomalies, and diseases.
Types of Echogenicity
How exactly does a doctor evaluate the state of organs during an ultrasound? Echogenicity can be different:
- Isoechogenicity is the norm. During the examination, the tissues on the screen are displayed in gray.
- Hypoechoicity is a reduced echogenicity. Objects look much darker than they should.
- Hypeechogenicity - indicates an increase in echogenicity. Fabrics are dyed in light gray or white.
- Anechoogenicity - echo negativity. By this term is meant the absence of echogenicity. Black structures are visible on the screen.
During the study, the nature of the color of one or another organ is taken into account. By the term “homogeneity” is meant the presence of a uniform color. For example, normal echogenicity of the liver parenchyma should be uniform. Heterogeneity, respectively, means heterogeneous staining of the object. If the liver parenchyma is heterogeneous, then this may indicate cirrhosis or other diseases.
Hypeechogenicity and its causes
The denser the organs, the higher their echogenicity. For example, scars, inflamed tissues, areas of fat accumulation, deposits of calcium salts in the image have a darker color. Hyperachogenicity of the parenchyma of various organs indicates a decrease in the amount of fluid. In turn, dehydration can lead to:
- hormonal disorders;
- disruptions in metabolic processes;
- improper nutrition (primarily affects the state of the pancreas);
- bad habits (taking drugs, alcohol, smoking);
- trauma, inflammation and other pathological processes in the tissues of the body.
Pancreatic echogenicity increased: what is it?
It is not a secret for anyone that in case of suspicion of certain diseases of the pancreas, the patient is first prescribed an ultrasound. What can I learn about using similar equipment? What does it mean if the echogenicity of the pancreas is increased? What is it and is it worth worrying about this?
Hyperachogenicity of this organ may indicate the following pathologies:
- Hyperdensity of the pancreatic parenchyma is observed in the presence of edema, inflammation, and 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 echogenicity of a diffuse nature is often observed against a background of chronic pancreatitis and is associated with scarring of tissues. If the size of the gland does not change, then this may indicate the development of diabetes mellitus or the replacement of normal tissues with fat.
It is worth noting that an increase in echogenicity may be temporary. For example, a similar change in density may be due to:
- reactive inflammation in many infections, including diseases such as pneumonia and flu;
- a change in the type of foods consumed, malnutrition;
- lifestyle changes, intense physical exertion.
Why is echogenicity below normal?
Other ultrasound results are possible. For example, some fabrics and structures on the screen of the device look light. This indicates a small acoustic density of the examined organ.
If the echogenicity of the tissues is reduced, this may indicate the formation of a cyst (there is fluid inside the formation), a tumor, or fibroadenoma.
Pancreatic hypoechogenicity and its causes
If the echo density of the organ decreases, then this may indicate the presence of dangerous problems.
- For example, metastases on the screen look like hypoechoic structures with fuzzy contours (they do not occupy the entire organ parenchyma).
- A cyst is a small formation of a homogeneous structure with a smooth contour and low density.
- If several sites with low echogenicity have formed in the organ parenchyma, this may indicate the development of a fibrolipomatous process or hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
- With the help of ultrasound equipment, cancer can also be diagnosed. A tumor is a hypoechoic structure with thin outgrowths. In this case, blood flow is not visualized, large vessels of the gland are displaced, and the size of the pancreas increases.
Hypoechogenicity of the liver
What is the evidence of decreased liver density? Normally, the organ parenchyma has a uniform gray structure. And if deviations happen?
- The presence of rounded nodes with low echogenicity may indicate cirrhosis.
- If the parenchyma is a small formation with smooth contours, then it is likely that the patient has a cyst.
- The thrombus has the appearance of an oval or elongated (but rounded) inclusion of small size with a loose echostructure.
- If areas with different echogenicity and uneven contours form in the parenchyma, an abscess may occur. Sometimes on the screen you can see small gas bubbles.
- The adenoma has a uniform structure, low echo density and smooth edges.
- But a malignant tumor looks like a patch of heterogeneous structure. Calcification is possible, as well as hemorrhage. Symptoms include a change in the size or structure of the local lymph nodes.
What does anechogenicity indicate?
As already mentioned, echogenicity is the property of the tissues of the human body to reflect ultrasonic waves. But there is such a term as anechogenicity. Echo-negative organs are not able to reflect ultrasound and on the screen look like black areas.
In most cases, the presence of black spots on the monitor screen is not dangerous. For example, a liquid does not reflect ultrasonic waves. Nevertheless, sometimes anechogenicity indicates the presence of serious pathologies, including cystic formations or malignant tumors.
The presence of anechogenic sites 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 common pathologies that can be detected during an ultrasound scan:
- an oval or rounded 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 with the branches of the portal vein of the liver, indicates vasodilation;
- the pulsating black structure that communicates with the artery may be an aneurysm;
- a round black formation with echogenic canals and walls indicates the presence of an echinococcal cyst.
How to decipher the results of an ultrasound of the thyroid gland?
In the process of diagnosing any thyroid disease, 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 form of thyroid inflammation.
Of course, the decrease in echo density also has its reasons:
- the formation and growth of the cyst;
- the presence of a vascular formation;
- cancer diseases (occur in no more than 5% of cases).
Sometimes, during an examination, an anechogenic formation is found in the tissues of the gland. Such a structure may 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;
- colloid cyst.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor needs to collect a complete medical history and get acquainted with the result of laboratory tests.
Kidney screening
A study of renal echogenicity is also very informative. Is it worth worrying if during the procedure areas with increased echo density were detected?
- If the size of the kidneys is increased, and the echogenicity is increased (the density of the pyramids decreases), 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 region in the homogeneous organ parenchyma, this may indicate the formation of calcifications, kidney infarction, myeloma, and the presence of a malignant tumor.
- Enhanced echogenicity of the renal sinus may indicate the presence of endocrine and metabolic disorders, inflammatory processes.
Sometimes during the study in the kidney parenchyma, a site with hypoechoicity is found, which on the monitor looks like a lighter spot. This may indicate the presence of:
- cysts (the formation has a homogeneous structure, clear and even borders);
- a tumor, including a malignant one (the detected tumor has a heterogeneous structure and fuzzy contours, sometimes there is an increase in retroperitoneal lymph nodes).
The presence of neutral (anechogenic) sites also sometimes signals the presence of dangerous diseases.
- Simple cyst . On the screen you can see anechogenic inclusion (usually of small size) with thin walls and even edges.
- Secondary cyst . In the tissues of the organ there is an education with heterogeneous echogenicity of an irregular shape. As a rule, similar structures are located next to scar tissue.
- Polycystic In both kidneys, you can find multiple echo-negative neoplasms.
- Cancer A malignant tumor, as a rule, does not have black outlines. Within the neoplasm, various inclusions are often present.
- Perinephric hematoma . The contours of the affected kidney in this case do not change. Nevertheless, anechoic structure of irregular shape 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 a particular organ, you can get a lot of useful information. Nevertheless, the results of ultrasound alone are not enough to make an accurate diagnosis.
Deciphering the results depends on many factors, including 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 also taken into account.