Leydig cell tumors of the testis: gray scale and color Doppler sonographic appearance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the gray scale and color Doppler sonographic features of Leydig cell tumors of the testis in a series of patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the sonographic appearance of 10 proven Leydig cell tumors in 9 patients aged 26 to 47 years. Sonographic features that were reviewed included the size and echogenicity of the tumors, presence of cystic areas or calcifications, and distribution pattern of detectable blood flow on color or power Doppler imaging. RESULTS: The tumors ranged from 0.4 to 3.0 cm in diameter, but most were less than 1.0 cm in diameter. In 1 testis, 2 discrete Leydig cell tumors were found. Nine (90%) of the 10 tumors were homogeneously hypoechoic. Only 1 tumor was isoechoic with the testis. None of the tumors contained calcifications. Of 8 tumors with color Doppler imaging, 7 (88%) showed a characteristic pattern of increased peripheral blood flow, which was either circumferential or punctate. Only 1 tumor was found with internal hypervascularity. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral hypervascularity in a hypoechoic testicular tumor that has little or no internal color Doppler flow should suggest the possibility of a Leydig cell tumor, and consideration should be given to testicle-sparing surgery.     

Common and uncommon sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative frequency of various sonographic findings in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the sonographic features in 55 patients with proven papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Sonographic features analyzed were echo texture, cystic change, margin, contour, presence of a peripheral halo, vascularity, and calcification pattern. Features were classified as common (> or = 35% of cases) or uncommon (< 10% of cases). Combinations of features were also analyzed. RESULTS: Common sonographic features of papillary carcinoma included hypoechoic texture (86%), microcalcifications (42%) or no calcifications (47%), well-defined margins (47%), and intrinsic hypervascularity (69%). Uncommon features included hyperechoic or mixed echo texture, cystic elements, irregular margins, hypovascularity, and coarse or peripheral calcifications. Of the 29 lesions that had calcifications, 20 (69%) had microcalcifications; 5 (17%) had coarse calcifications; and 1 had peripheral calcifications. In total, 54% of cases had at least 1 uncommon feature, and 11% had 2 or more uncommon features. Cystic carcinomas were rare and accounted for only 6% of lesions; all had hypervascular solid components. No carcinomas in our series were completely avascular. CONCLUSIONS: There is a broad spectrum of sonographic findings in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Half of the lesions in this series had at least 1 uncommon sonographic feature.     

彩色多普勒超声鉴别甲状腺结节良恶性价值的再探讨

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声在甲状腺结节良恶性鉴别中的价值。方法回顾性分析857个以实性及实性为主的甲状腺结节,评估每个结节的彩色多普勒超声特征,包括血管模式和血供程度。根据结节大小及结节内部回声又各分成2个亚组(≤1cm组和>1cm组、极低/低回声组和中等/高回声组)。所有结节根据病理结果分成良性组和恶性组。经统计学检验,分析彩色多普勒超声特征在鉴别甲状腺良恶性方面的作用。结果 857个实性及实性为主的结节中,良恶性结节均以混合血管型为主,良性结节以高血供为主,恶性结节则以低血供为主。根据结节大小分组,恶性结节在≤1cm组和>1cm组中均以低血供为主,但结节变大,高血供所占比例上升;良性结节在≤1cm组中以低血供为主,在>1cm组中以高血供为主。根据内部回声分组,恶性结节在极低/低回声组和中等/高回声组中均以低血供为主;良性结节在极低/低回声组中以低血供为主,在中等/高回声组中以高血供为主。结论不同分组的血管模式和血供程度在良恶性结节中存在一定的重叠性,对鉴别甲状腺结节的良恶性意义有限。     

Sonographic features of hepatic adenomas with pathologic correlation

BACKGROUND: We compared the sonographic characteristics of hepatic adenomas with pathologic findings. METHODS: Information over 10 years was collected on 12 patients (six men, six women; mean age = 47 years) with surgically proven hepatic adenomas. Clinical data, sonographic features, and histopathologic findings were reviewed. RESULTS: The tumors in males were smaller and simpler than those in women (p < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Four of the six larger tumors (>5 cm) showed mixed-echoic patterns corresponding with pathologically intratumoral hemorrhage and necrosis. Four homogeneously hypoechoic tumors had less change in tumor composition. Three homogeneously hyperechoic tumors had evident fatty changes inside. One isoechoic tumor had a hypoechoic rim, that correlated mostly to the tumor itself and compressed liver parenchyma. Seven of the 12 tumors had thin fibrous capsules that were not seen on sonography. CONCLUSION: Hepatic adenomas have variable sonographic appearances depending on changes in the tumor. Hypoechoic, hyperechoic, and mixed-echoic patterns represent simple adenoma, adenoma with fatty metamorphosis, and hemorrhagic necrosis, respectively, in tumors.     

Testicular epidermoid cysts: sonographic features with histopathologic correlation

Testicular epidermoid cysts are rare, accounting for 1% of all testicular tumors. We present the sonographic appearances of epidermoid cysts in 3 cases, together with the histopathologic correlation. In case 1, sonography showed an intratesticular hypoechoic mass with a well-defined echogenic rim; the mass measured 1.8 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm, and there was no evidence of calcification. In case 2, sonography showed a well-circumscribed mass measuring 1.3 x 1.3 x 1.0 cm, with alternating hypoechoic and hyperechoic rings (onion-ring appearance) and no calcifications. In case 3, sonography showed a 2.4- x 2.3- x 2.3-cm, well-circumscribed, oval mass with a heterogeneous echotexture and an outer hypoechoic halo. The mass contained plaque-like regions of increased echogenicity, with peripheral acoustic shadowing from refraction artifact. Hypoechoic clefts were visualized posterior to the plaque-like areas. The triad of findings-sonographic appearance of an onion ring, avascularity on Doppler sonography, and negative results of tumor marker studies-is highly suggestive of an epidermoid cyst.     

桥本氏甲状腺炎的超声诊断与鉴别诊断

目的探讨桥本氏甲状腺炎(HT)的二维及彩色多普勒超声表现及鉴别要点。方法60例HT患者及82例甲状腺其他疾病患者应用常规超声检查,分析其声像图表现及超声鉴别要点。结果按回声分类,HT可分为四型:局灶性回声减低型、弥漫性回声减低型、单发结节型及多发结节型。与甲状腺其他疾病比较,各型HT特征性的变化有峡部增厚,双侧叶对称性肿,不规则强回声带,结节呈实性、斑点状钙化,结节外血流信号丰富及双侧甲状腺上动脉PSV值对称性升高。结论二维及彩色多普勒超声对HT的诊断及鉴别诊断有重要价值。     

Sonographic characteristics of small hepatocellular carcinoma

Fifty-four lesions of small hepatocellular carcinoma under 5 cm in diameter detected by real-time sonography were reviewed to characterize the sonographic feature. Twenty-nine lesions were smaller than 3 cm in diameter and 25 were between 3 and 5 cm in diameter. Sonographic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma were peripheral hypoechoic halo (52%), lateral shadow (26%), posterior acoustic enhancement (44%), and mosaic pattern (24%) of the mass. Small tumors less than 3 cm in diameter showed a hypoechoic pattern in half of the cases, whereas most of the tumors between 3 and 5 cm in diameter showed a hyperechoic or mixed pattern. Posterior acoustic enhancement was commonly seen in small tumors less than 3 cm in diameter, while a mosaic pattern was commonly seen in large tumors between 3 and 5 cm in diameter. These results suggest that sonography might be useful for the characterization of small hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Evaluation of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia with contrast-enhanced gray scale harmonic sonography: initial experience.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential of contrast-enhanced gray scale harmonic sonography in the evaluation of the typical vascular and enhancement patterns of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia. METHODS: Thirteen patients with 13 lesions of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia underwent contrast-enhanced gray scale harmonic sonography. After the injection of a microbubble contrast agent (SH U 508A), gray scale harmonic sonographic studies using a Coded Harmonic Angio technique were performed with a combination of a period of continuous scanning to assess the vascular pattern (vascular imaging) and interval delay scanning to determine the sequential enhancement pattern (acoustic emission imaging). Each imaging pattern was categorized and analyzed by consensus of 2 experienced radiologists. RESULTS: In 12 (92%) of 13 lesions, vascular imaging during the arterial phase showed central arteries of a spoked wheel pattern, whereas the remaining lesion had stippled vascularity. On acoustic emission imaging, 11 (85%) of 13 lesions were hyperechoic during the early phase, and the remaining 2 (15%) were isoechoic compared with surrounding parenchyma. Ten (77%) of 13 lesions remained either hyperechoic (5 of 13) or isoechoic (5 of 13) during the delay phase, whereas the remaining 3 lesions (23%) were hypoechoic. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced gray scale harmonic sonography showed the typical vascularity of a spoked wheel pattern during the vascular phase and persistent enhancement on serial acoustic emission imaging in most cases of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia, and thereby it can be a promising technique in noninvasive diagnosis of this entity.     

超声引导下兔肾VX2肿瘤穿刺接种技术的研究

目的探讨超声引导下穿刺制备兔肾VX2实质性肿瘤(实体瘤)模型中的注意事项及操作技术改进。方法对25只新西兰大白兔,采用超声引导下经皮穿刺方法将VX2肿瘤组织混悬液注射到肾实质内,分别在接种术后3、7、9、11、13、16d,采用超声观测病灶的形态、大小、回声、血供等改变,并观察大体及镜下肿瘤组织的形态特征。结果在接种术后第7天超声即可检测到肿瘤生长,第16天有24只实验兔(24/25)检测到肿瘤,以等至稍高回声表现为主,其中18只(18/24)是实体瘤,另6只肿瘤内部出现液性无回声区。兔肿瘤较小时,可见血流信号伸入肿瘤内部,表现为短棒状,少数可见树枝状血流信号;在肿瘤直径达1cm以上时,血流主要分布在周边,形成抱球状,内部仅见少许点状血流信号。结论采用超声引导下经皮穿刺接种方法制备肾实质性肿瘤模型简单易行,成功率高,所获得的肾实体瘤动物模型能基本满足经皮肿瘤消融治疗实验的需要。     

Sonographic findings of Zenker diverticula.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the sonographic findings of Zenker diverticula. METHODS: This study included 6 patients (age, 26-70 years; average, 55.3 years). Three cases were detected incidentally by thyroid sonograms, and 3 cases were transferred from other hospitals for aspiration of a thyroid nodule. All the sonograms and medical records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: All 6 patients had no symptoms, and diverticula were incidentally detected by neck sonography. The masses were located on the posterolateral aspect of the left lobe in 5 patients and the right lobe in the remaining patient. All lesions were located in the upper and mid portions of the thyroid glands and showed echogenic foci similar to those of a microcalcification or an arc-shaped microcalcification. The sonographic findings of a Zenker diverticulum were seen as an isoechoic or a hypoechoic mass with internal or peripheral echogenic foci and a boundary hypoechoic zone at the posterior portion of the thyroid gland on sonography. All lesions appeared connected with the adjacent esophageal wall on sonography. In all cases, diagnoses were confirmed by esophagography. CONCLUSIONS: Zenker diverticula had several unique characteristics on sonography. We can, therefore, diagnose Zenker diverticula by careful thyroid sonography, avoiding unnecessary aspiration due to misdiagnosis of a Zenker diverticulum as a thyroid nodule.     

Hürthle cell thyroid adenoma with an eggshell calcification: Sonographic‐pathologic correlation

We report the sonographic pathologic correlation in a case of Hürthle cell thyroid adenoma with an eggshell calcification in a 58‐year‐old woman. The mass was hypoechoic with a continuous eggshell calcification on gray‐scale sonographic and intranodular vascularity power Doppler imaging. At pathological examination, the dystrophic calcification of eggshell type was located between the intact fibrous capsule and the main tumor matrix. Hürthle cell adenoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of a thyroid nodule with an eggshell calcification. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42 :172–175, 2014     

The small spleen: sonographic patterns of functional hyposplenia or asplenia

PURPOSE: Functional hyposplenia or asplenia (FAS) can be associated with potential fatal infections. The diagnosis of FAS is traditionally made on liver-spleen scintigraphy and finding Howell-Jolly bodies within erythrocytes. In this retrospective study, our goal was to identify any characteristic sonographic findings of the spleen in patients with FAS in an attempt to determine whether the diagnosis of FAS can be made sonographically. METHODS: In a review of all medical and sonographic records from the period of January 1, 1985, through December 31, 2001, we identified 24 patients (11 men, 13 women) in whom FAS had been diagnosed by liver-spleen scintigraphy (n = 13) or the finding of Howell-Jolly bodies (n = 11). The following sonographic parameters were determined: size of spleen (small, normal, or large), echotexture of the spleen (homogeneous versus inhomogeneous), echogenicity (isoechoic versus hyperechoic), presence of focal splenic lesions, and patterns of splenic vascularization as determined by color Doppler sonography (absent flow, hilar flow, or parenchymal flow). RESULTS: The spleen was small in 20 patients (83%) and normal in the other 4 (17%). Echotexture was homogeneous in 13 patients (54%) and inhomogeneous in 11 (46%). The spleen was isoechoic in 18 cases (75%) and hyperechoic in 6 (25%). Six patients (25%) had focal lesions. Color Doppler sonography showed absent flow in 4 patients (17%), hilar flow in 17 (71%), and hilar and parenchymal vascularization in 3 (12%). CONCLUSIONS: Sonographic findings in the spleen of patients with FAS are characterized predominantly by a small spleen with absence of parenchymal vascularization on color Doppler sonography in most cases. Future prospective studies will be necessary to confirm these findings and to determine whether FAS can be diagnosed reliably with sonography.     

Adrenal pheochromocytomas: a broad spectrum of sonographic presentation.

Sonographic findings in 19 patients with proved adrenal pheochromocytomas observed over a 10 year period were evaluated retrospectively. Adrenal tumors were analyzed by number, size, echogenicity, internal echogenicity, and biologic behavior. There were 16 benign and 3 malignant pheochromocytomas, all of which were well marginated or encapsulated and ranged from 1.4 to 11 cm in greatest diameter (mean, 4.8 +/- 2.2 cm). A broad spectrum of sonographic appearances has been noted, including purely solid tumors (68%), complex masses (16%), and cystic lesions (16%). Compared with renal parenchyma as a reference tissue, 10 (77%) of 13 solid pheochromocytomas were isoechoic or hypoechoic, whereas three (23%) were hyperechoic. Six (46%) of the solid tumors were homogeneously echogenic, and seven (54%) were heterogeneous. Ultrasonic discrimination between benign and malignant pheochromocytoma on the basis of acoustic features alone has proved impossible. Abdominal sonography, however, provided evidence of malignancy in all three patients with malignant tumors by disclosing regional or distant metastases. In conclusion, rather than showing a specific uniform ultrasonographic appearance, pheochromocytoma is associated with a broad spectrum of possible sonographic presentations.     

Peripheral cholangiocarcinoma: sonographic evaluation.

One hundred and seven patients who had intrahepatic tumor that demonstrated by sonography, and proved histologically, to be cholangiocarcinoma (CC), were reviewed retrospectively. Two main tumor patterns were found, namely the nodular form (N = 101) and the infiltrative form (N = 6); 33 of 101 patients with nodular lesions had solitary masses and 18 had multiple masses. The echogenicity of primary tumors were hyperechoic (N = 56), hypoechoic (N = 15), isoechoic (N = 10), and mixed-echoic (N = 20). A peripheral hypoechoic rim was present in 35 primary tumors (34.7%). Peripheral bile duct dilatation was seen in 33 patients (30.8%). Extrahepatic extension was found at operation in 46 of 52 patients (88.5%), while it was demonstrable by ultrasonography in only 16 (30.8%). Five of 6 small lesions (3 cm and less) already had an extrahepatic extension.     

正常甲状旁腺的高频超声表现

目的：探讨正常甲状旁腺高频超声检查的显示率、探查技巧、显示部位及超声表现。方法：应用高频超声检查300例健康体检者的甲状旁腺,记录其大小、形态、部位、数量、内部回声及血流情况,对检查的结果进行整理分析。结果：300例体检者中共检出甲状旁腺465枚,其中显示4枚者12例、3枚者27例、2枚者139例、1枚者58例,未显示者64例,显示率为78.7%（236/300）;正常甲状旁腺可呈椭圆形（73.5%）、梭形（18.1%）或不规则形（8.4%）;回声可呈高回声（78.3%）、低回声（16.5%）或等回声（5.2%）;彩色多普勒血流显像（CDFI）表现为无血流（81.9%）或少量血流（17.9%）,仅1例为丰富血流（0.2%）;纵切扫查时,甲状旁腺多位于甲状腺侧叶后缘及下极附近,横切扫查时,多位于甲状腺侧叶后缘,气管与颈总动脉之间的区域。结论：正常甲状旁腺的高频超声显示率较高,常表现为椭圆形高回声、无或乏血流信号。     

皮肤隆突性纤维肉瘤的超声表现

目的：研究皮肤隆突性纤维肉瘤的超声表现,提高其诊断准确性。方法：回顾分析10例病理证实为皮肤隆突性纤维肉瘤患者的超声检查资料。结果：10例患者中,9例肿瘤位于皮肤浅表,紧贴皮肤,1例肿瘤位于乳腺内。其灰阶超声表现有3种：（1）＂洋葱皮型＂肿瘤6个,肿瘤平均最大径41mm,均呈卵圆形;其中4例呈分叶状,边界清晰,肿瘤内见低回声区,内部及周边见粗大分层状高回声区;（2）回声均匀型3例,肿瘤平均最大径17mm,均呈卵圆形,边界清晰,肿瘤呈低回声或稍低回声;（3）回声杂乱型1例,肿瘤最大径170mm,内见高回声及低回声区,杂乱分布。彩色超声示2个最小肿瘤无明显血流信号;其余8个血流丰富,呈网状,平均阻力指数0.57。结论：皮肤隆突性纤维肉瘤有一定特征性超声表现,超声检查有助肿瘤诊断。     

Two small intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas with different sonographic appearances.

We report on 2 cases of small intrahepatic (or peripheral) cholangiocarcinomas initially detected by sonography and completely resected. The lesions had a peripheral hypoechoic component and a central isoechoic or hyperechoic component. One had posterior acoustic shadowing on sonography, and the other did not. Comparison with pathologic findings in both cases indicated that severe fibrotic changes may have caused the posterior acoustic shadowing. This finding is extremely rare. We found only 1 previously reported case of cholangiocarcinoma accompanied by acoustic shadowing.     

Sonography of Fat Necrosis Involving the Extremity and Torso With Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histologic Correlation

Objective. The purpose of this study was to describe the sonographic appearance of pathologically proven isolated fat necrosis involving the extremities or torso with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlation. Methods. A query of the Department of Pathology database at our institution for the diagnosis of fat necrosis resulted in 1539 cases. Review of the cases and medical records excluded cases without sonographic imaging, those involving the breast, and those within or adjacent to a primary process, including masses or prior surgery, which resulted in a total of 5 cases of primary fat necrosis, 2 of which were evaluated with MRI. Sonograms were reviewed by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists and characterized with regard to location, echogenicity, shadowing, posterior through‐transmission, a hypoechoic rim or halo, definition of borders, homogeneity, a mass effect, and vascularity. The patient medical records, histologic results, and MRI findings were also reviewed. Results. Of the 5 cases of isolated fat necrosis, 2 involved the torso and 3 the lower extremities. On sonography, all were located in the subcutaneous fat; 2 were isoechoic; 3 were hyperechoic; 2 had a hypoechoic halo; none showed shadowing or posterior through‐transmission; 2 were well defined; 3 were masslike; 4 were heterogeneous; and 2 showed increased flow on color or power Doppler imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intermediate signal and either diffuse or ring enhancement. Conclusions. Isolated fat necrosis of the extremities and torso had 2 sonographic appearances, which included a well‐defined isoechoic mass with a hypoechoic halo and a poorly defined hyperechoic region in the subcutaneous fat.     

Imaging of diseases of the thyroid gland in Austria

Imaging techniques for first line investigation of diseases of the thyroid gland are sonography (US) and scintigraphy, followed in dedicated cases by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Malignant lesions are generally hypoechoic on US with calcifications visible in some cases. The appearance of lymph node metastases is similar to that of the primary tumour. The various forms of goiter are the most commonly occurring forms of thyroid diseases in Austria, they appear heterogenous with hyperechoic as well as hypoechoic or anechoic nodes, in some cases with calcification. US findings of thyreoiditis are in acute forms of the disease more hypoechoic with diffuse swelling and hyperechoic with scar formations in chronic forms. Ectopic thyroid tissue occurs often in the form of thyroglossal duct cysts which are anechoic or hypoechoic.     

Sonographic diagnosis of thyroid nodules: correlation with the results of sonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy

PURPOSE: To assess the reliability of sonography in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules and selecting lesions for fine-needle aspiration (FNA). METHODS: During a 2-year period, the following 7 sonographic parameters were assessed in 129 patients with thyroid nodules: size, number, echogenicity, echotexure, margin regularity, presence of calcifications, and presence of a hypoechoic rim. Sonographically guided FNA was performed on thyroid nodules 5 mm in diameter. Out of 184 FNAs, we obtained 168 specimens adequate for cytologic analysis and 16 (9%) nondiagnostic specimens. RESULTS: FNA diagnoses included 150 (89%) benign and 18 (11%) malignant nodules. Among 53 solitary nodules, 11 were carcinomas and 42 were benign (p < 0.01). The mean size of the carcinomas was 28 +/- 12 mm versus 18 +/- 10 mm for benign nodules (p < 0.01). The following sonographic features were significantly associated with malignancy: hypoechogenicity, irregular margins, calcifications, and absence of a hypoechoic rim. Differences in echotexure between malignant and benign nodules were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Sonographically guided FNA should be performed on thyroid nodules 5 mm in diameter with sonographic characteristics that suggest malignancy.