Hypoechoic areas on ultrasound images of atheroma are not always diagnostic of fatty plaque

Atherosclerotic plaques in ultrasound (US) images may have bright areas suggestive of fibrous plaque and hypoechoic areas that are often interpreted as fatty plaque. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that fibrous tissue in atherosclerotic plaques will be hyperechoic or hypoechoic, depending on collagen fiber morphology. Twelve segments of aortic arch containing atherosclerotic plaques obtained from cadavers were imaged with an 8-MHz US transducer, then sectioned, stained with picrosirius red and examined with polarized light microscopy. There were 12 bright areas that contained predominantly thick collagen fibers. Two areas were anechoic, with predominantly thin collagen fibers. There were 11 hypoechoic areas; six of these contained thin fibers and five contained no collagen on polarized light microscopy, suggesting fat or thrombus. We conclude that fibrous aortic plaques consisting of predominantly thin fibers appear hypoechoic or anechoic on US images and, therefore, may be indistinguishable from fatty plaques.     

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。     

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。     

Breast and Scrotal Sparganosis

Objective. Sparganosis is caused by the tapeworm larva of the geneus Spirometra. Because sparganosis usually manifests as a migrating subcutaneous mass, sonography can play an important role in its diagnosis. Methods. In this series, we investigated 4 cases of subcutaneous sparganosis and focused on the sonographic findings. Three of the cases involved the breast, and the other involved the scrotum, as confirmed by surgery. Results. The characteristics of subcutaneous sparganosis included a poorly defined hyperechoic lesion with internal serpiginous tubular structures, anechoic serpiginous tubular structures with a surrounding hyperechoic lesion, and an elongated hyperechoic mass with a hypoechoic nodular lesion in the central portion. Conclusions. We suggest that a mass combined with a hypoechoic tubular structure should raise the suspicion of subcutaneous sparganosis.     

甲状腺癌的高频声像图特征及彩色多普勒血流显像分析

目的：探讨高频超声与ＣＤＦＩ对甲状腺癌的诊断价值。方法：通过对３８例经手术病理证实为甲状腺癌的高频声像图与彩色多普勒进行分析。结果：本病的高频声像图多数具有实质肿块及囊性肿块内实质部份沙粒状钙化或粗糙钙化光团、单发低回声的实质结节等特点,少数表现为增强及杂乱回声的肿块。ＣＤＦＩ表现：肿块内血流阻力指数（ＲＩ）较高,平均为０．７７＋０．１０。有肿块侧的上动脉平均最大流速（Ｖｍａｘ）、平均最小流速（Ｖｍｉｎ）、平均ＲＩ较无肿块侧高,经统计学处理,有显著性差异,ｐ＜０．０５。     

肉芽肿性小叶性乳腺炎超声表现

目的探讨肉芽肿性小叶性乳腺炎(GLM)的高频超声图像特征。方法对23例以乳腺包块就诊,经术前超声及手术病理证实为GLM患者的病例资料进行回顾性分析。在灰阶声像图上观察肿块大小、形状、边界、内部回声及后方回声。应用彩色多普勒血流成像(CDFI)观察病灶内部及其周围血流分布和供应情况。结果23例GLM患者(均经手术后病理证实)均为经产妇,年龄20～43岁。灰阶声像图显示12例表现为连续或不连续的不规则管状结构样低回声区,低回声区周围为高回声;5例表现为单发或多发、边界相对清楚、不均质低回声结节或肿块,其内可伴无回声区;5例表现为病变区腺体结构紊乱,未见明确边界,内部回声强弱不一,病变内可见无回声区;1例表现为边界模糊、形态不规则的低回声实质肿块伴后方回声衰减。23例中患处皮肤层增厚8例,6例伴有皮肤破溃,窦道形成。CDFI示22例(22/23)病变内部及周边动静脉血流信号明显增加。结论GLM病变的超声表现具有一定的特点,但这些表现不具有特征性,确诊仍需病理学检查。     

中心型肺癌的声像图表现

目的 评价超声对中心型肺癌的诊断价值。方法 对胸部Ｘ线或ＣＴ检查诊断为中心型肺癌伴肺实变（阻塞性肺炎、肺不张）的６１例患者进行超声检查。结果 实变肺的声像图表现为楔形或三角形低回声或等回声,肺癌为肺门附近的低回声结节或实变肺内的强回声肿块。ＣＴ在确定支气管阻塞方面优于超声（Ｐ＜0.001),而在显示肺实变及确定阻塞的肿瘤方面ＣＴ和超声没有统计学意义（Ｐ＞0.05)。结论 超声在中心型肺癌的诊断中有一定价值。     

超声背向散射积分在肝占位性病变诊断中的应用价值

目的 :应用超声背向散射积分 (IBS)这一新技术对不同肝占位性病变的二维图像进行定量分析比较 ,评价该技术在肝占位性病变鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法 :将肝占位性病变按病理分型分为肝囊肿组、肝血管瘤组、肝癌组。按回声强度分为无回声、低回声和强回声组。应用背向散射积分对各种肝占位性病变的二维图像及 IBS参数进行测定。结果 :肝囊肿组与肝血管瘤和肝癌组之间 AII、 PPI和 SDI均有显著性差异 (P<0 .0 1) ;肝血管瘤组与肝癌组之间 PPI、 SDI有显著性差异 (P<0 .0 1) ,AII无显著性差异 (P>0 .0 5) ;AII在无回声、低回声和强回声各组间均分别有显著性差异。随着回声的增强 ,AII值增大。结论 :背向散射积分在肝占位性病变鉴别诊断中有一定的价值     

Contrast-enhanced sonography for differential diagnosis of an inhomogeneous spleen of unknown cause in patients with pain in the left upper quadrant.

OBJECTIVE: Second-generation contrast agents have shown spleen-specific uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of contrast-enhanced sonography (CES) to demarcate splenic lesions in patients with pain in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) and an inhomogeneous splenic texture. METHODS: From October 2003 to July 2005, 31 consecutive patients with pain in the LUQ and splenic inhomogeneity on B-mode sonography were studied by CES using a second-generation contrast agent (SonoVue; Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy). The following data were retrospectively evaluated: extent of enhancement (EE) of the spleen and focal splenic lesions was determined and classified, with the EE of surrounding tissue used as an in vivo reference. Focal splenic lesions were classified after CES as round or wedge shaped, solitary or multiple, and anechoic, hypoechoic, or hyperechoic. RESULTS: The EE of the spleen after CES was anechoic (n = 1), hypoechoic (n = 1), or hyperechoic (n = 29). In 16 of 31 patients, focal lesions were seen after CES. The EE of the lesions was anechoic (n = 11) or hypoechoic (n = 5). Lesions were solitary (n = 6) or multiple (n = 10) and round (n = 5) or wedge shaped (n = 11). Final clinical diagnoses of splenic abnormalities were no specific diagnosis (n = 13), complete autosplenectomy (n = 2), splenic lymphoma (n = 5), and splenic infarction (n = 11). The CES diagnoses were confirmed by computed tomography (n = 21), scintigraphy (n = 2), magnetic resonance imaging (n = 1), and clinical follow-up (n = 7). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with pain in the LUQ and splenic inhomogeneity, CES enables visualization of splenic abnormalities in more than 50% of the patients; in this group, splenic infarction was the most common diagnosis.     

超声诊断新生儿肾上腺出血的意义

目的 探讨新生儿肾上腺出血声像图特征及超声诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析住院治疗的新生儿肾上腺出血44例,彩色多普勒超声监测病灶形态特征及血供特点.结果 44例肾上腺出血中,超声正确诊断41例,3例误诊,伴阴囊血肿5例.声像图特征为肾上腺区混合回声、液性、偏高回声及低回声团块,病灶内不能测及血流信号.结论 超声可早期诊断新生儿肾上腺出血,是一种首选检查方法.     

晕征在诊断肝良恶性肿瘤中的价值──超声、CT、CT动脉造影的比较

本文目的在于评价晕征在诊断肝良、恶性病变中的价值。重点对肝癌的表现进行了讨论，阐明了晕征对诊断肝癌的意义并将晕征在超声、CT及CTA的表现进行了比较。材料与方法：71例肝占位性病变病人行超声检查，其中对26例有低回声晕征者还作了CT及CTA检查。结果：71例病人中超声表现为强回声40例，低回声26例，等回声3例，混合回声2例。原发性肝癌41例，有晕征者24例，且多为强回声型（56．1％）。11例肝转移癌中6例有晕征（54．5％），余13例肝血管瘤及6例肝脓肿有晕征者各1例。结论：本文结果表明晕征对区别肝良、恶性病变十分有价值，对肝癌的定性诊断很有帮助，尤其对以强回声为主要表现的病变，其作用更为重要。     

Early detection of renal cell carcinoma by ultrasonographic screening--based on the results of 13 years screening in Japan

Abdominal ultrasonographic (US) screening of 219,640 persons has been performed in the past 13 y, and 723 (0.33%) cases of malignant neoplasm were detected. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was detected in 192 cases (0.09% of the examinees). In almost all cases of RCC, no symptoms were evident and no abnormalities were detected in the blood chemistry tests or urinalyses. A total of 189 cases (98%) were resected curatively, and 38% of the tumors were less than 25 mm in size (T1). With respect to pTNM classification, 35% were pT1 and 52% were pT2. No metastasis to the lymph nodes or other organs was found in any case. The cumulative survival rate for cases resected was 97% at 5 y, and 95% at 10 y. Regarding US features of RCC, the internal echo pattern of half of T1 tumors showed homogeneous and hyperechoic, and became heterogeneous as they grew. Other notable US findings in cases of RCC were marginal hypoechoic zone (29%), anechoic component in the tumor (23%), and protrusion from the kidney (85%, 71% of the T1 tumors). US screening is useful for detection of RCC in the early stage. However, to detect small tumors, it is very important to know well the US features of RCC. For cost-effectiveness analysis, it is more effective to examine, not only the kidney, but other abdominal organs. It is expected that many other abdominal cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, gallbladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and so on, could be found in the early stage by broad implementation of US screening.     

Fluid–fluid levels in ovarian teratomas

Background: We evaluated the imaging features of ovarian teratomas containing fluid–fluid levels on ultrasonography (US). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed US examinations of two groups with 805 masses (370 benign ovarian teratomas and 435 nonteratomatous adnexal masses). Results: In 27 teratomas and eight nonteratomatous adnexal masses, fluid–fluid levels were detected on US. According to the echogenicity of each layer, 27 teratomas were classified as three types: 1, supernatant hypoechoic and dependent hyperechoic layers (n= 16); 2, supernatant hyperechoic and dependent hypoechoic layers (n= 8); and 3, supernatant hypoechoic and dependent hypoechoic layers with bright fluid interface (n= 3). In eight (30%) of 27 teratomas, US showed floating nodules at the interface, five of which had posterior acoustic shadowing. All eight nonteratomatous adnexal masses showed type 1 fluid–fluid levels. Conclusion: The fluid–fluid level seen on US is strongly suggestive but not pathognomonic of dermoids. Fluid–fluid levels with supernatant hyperechoic and dependent hypoechoic layers, supernatant hypoechoic and dependent hypoechoic layers with bright interface, and a floating nodule might pathognomonic findings of benign ovarian teratomas. Received: 8 December 2000/Accepted: 7 February 2001     

肝脏局限性结节性增生的超声与病理对照研究

目的：讨论肝脏局限性结节性增生（FNH）的超声表现及病理基础。方法：回顾性分析13个病理证实的FNH的超声特点并与病理对照。结果：结节大小为2．4－13．7cm,低回声8例,等回声4例,中高回声1例,5例病灶内见星状强回声区,B超显示4例结节内血管图像,多普勒超声于病灶内记录到丰富的低阻动脉频谱（能量多普勒显示全部病灶,彩色多普勒示11／13呈富血供）,7例病灶内血管呈放射状排列。结论 ;彩色多普勒和能量多普勒超声能够显示FNH的特征性血流表现,提高对FNH的诊断率。     

Accessory hepatic duct: sonographic findings

Accessory hepatic ducts are relatively rare biliary anomalies. They have been reported only sporadically, and very few reports have described their sonographic (US) findings. Our experience with two such cases suggested that a diagnosis of an accessory hepatic duct should be considered when US shows a fine tubular structure or an anechoic or hypoechoic oval mass with acoustic shadowing at the level between the hepatic hilus and the common bile duct. A good knowledge of the US findings will determine the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Received: 5 April 2001/Accepted: 16 May 2001     

前列腺癌的超声表现与组织结构

目的：探讨前列腺癌的超声表现与组织结构改变的关系。提高前列腺癌的超声诊断水平。方法：对71例经病理证实为前列腺腺癌的病例做前列腺超声的研究。采用前列腺超声表现与前列腺穿刺活检病理学检查的对照研究方法。结果：71例前列腺腺癌其中47例（66.20％）表现为或多个低回声结节,12例（16.90%）为均质回声无结节,9例（12.68％）为混合回声,3例（4.22%）为强回声改变。作者发现前列腺癌回声不同,但在组织构直没有明显差异,只是强回声癌改变有明显的间质纤维化。结论：前列腺腺癌的回声表现多样化,但组织结构没有明显差别。     

Sonographic Appearances of Liposarcoma: Correlations with Pathologic Subtypes

Liposarcoma is the second most common malignant soft-tissue tumor. This entity is pathologically categorized into 4 subtypes: well-differentiated, myxoid, dedifferentiated and pleomorphic. Although features on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography for these 4 subtypes have been reported quite precisely, those on sonography have not been fully investigated. The present study was therefore aimed at clarifying the sonographic appearances of each liposarcoma subtype and assessing correlations with histopathology. The study population was made up of 35 cases, including 21 cases of well-differentiated liposarcoma, 6 cases of myxoid liposarcoma, 6 cases of dedifferentiated liposarcoma and 2 cases of pleomorphic liposarcoma. Compared with the other subtypes, well-differentiated liposarcoma was characterized by the high frequency of the following findings: isoechogenicity, tiny hyperechoic lines and hypovascularity (p < 0.01, in each). Myxoid liposarcomas were characterized by low echogenicity, intermingled with anechoic areas and moderate vascularity (p < 0.01, in each). Dedifferentiated liposarcomas showed a specific biphasic pattern of hyperechoic and hypoechoic areas and hypervascularity (p < 0.01, in each). Pleomorphic liposarcomas showed a specific gyrus-like mixture of hyperechoic and hypoechoic areas (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the present study revealed different characteristics of sonographic appearance among the 4 histopathologic subtypes of liposarcoma.     

乳腺脂肪坏死的声像图特点

目的：探讨乳腺脂肪坏死的超声影像学特征。方法：对我院1994年4月至2001年12月间诊治的30例乳腺脂肪坏死超声影像特点进行回顾性分析，所有患者均经手术切除获得病理组织学诊断。结果：乳腺脂肪坏死的声像图表现分为：皮下型：9例（30％）位于皮下的脂肪组织呈增强的中等回声区。此型误诊率为33%(3/9)。腺体型：21例（70％）病变位于腺体内，声像图表现为：（1）62％（13／21）呈低回声，后方回声增强或无改变；（2）24％（5／21）呈无回声，后方回声增强；（3）5％（1／21）呈无回声，后方回声衰减；（4）5％（1／21）呈无回声，腔内壁呈高回声结节，后方回声增强；（5）5％（1／21）声像图正常。此型误诊率达76％（19／21）。结论：了解乳腺脂肪坏死的特征性声像图，对诊断此病具有重要价值。     

声触诊组织量化成像技术对局灶型亚急性甲状腺炎与甲状腺乳头状癌的鉴别诊断价值

目的:探讨常规超声及声触诊组织量化成像技术(virtual touch tissue imaging quantification,VTIQ)对局灶型亚急性甲状腺炎(subacutethyroiditis,SAT)和甲状腺乳头状癌(papillary thyroid carcinoma,PTC)的鉴别诊断价值。方法:选取经细针穿刺或手术病理证实的27例局灶型SAT和30例PTC病例资料,分析2组病变常规超声和VTIQ的图像特征。结果:局灶型SAT组出现边界模糊的比例高于PTC,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。局灶型SAT组有9例出现回声向心性减低,7例内部呈低回声夹杂斑片状高回声,而PTC组均无此超声特点。局灶型SAT组病变内剪切波速度(shear wave velocity,SWV)的平均值为(4.23±0.89)m/s,PTC组SWV的平均值为(3.12±0.26)m/s。2组SWV的平均值间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。VTIQ能够实时定量测量甲状腺结节的硬度,对于SWV超过3.58 m/s的甲状腺结节,做TI-RARD降级处理后发现,诊断效能明显上升。结论:局灶型SAT与PTC二维超声图像特征存在交叉重叠现象,易将局灶型SAT误诊为甲状腺恶性肿瘤。VTIQ对局灶型SAT与PTC的鉴别诊断有一定的辅助诊断价值。     

肾上腺皮质大腺瘤超声表现

目的分析肾上腺皮质大腺瘤（直径≥4．0em）超声声像图表现。方法回顾性分析2006年1月至2012年8月中国医学科学院肿瘤医院经手术及病理证实的13例肾上腺皮质大腺瘤（直径≥4．0cm）患者的超声声像图表现。结果13例肾上腺皮质大腺瘤患者均为单侧单发。13个肾上腺皮质大腺瘤均有完整包膜,肿瘤直径为4．0～8．8cm,平均（5．5±1．6）cm。3个呈均匀低回声,10个内部回声不均,其中7个肿瘤内部呈结节样低回声及高回声分隔;3个肿瘤内见无回声区;3个肿瘤内见粗大强回声伴后方声影;2个肿瘤内见斑片状高回声。彩色多普勒血流成像示肿瘤内部无或少量血流信号。结论肾上腺皮质大腺瘤具有包膜完整,回声混杂,可伴分隔、钙化、液化坏死等特点,以上特点均与常见肾上腺腺瘤超声表现不同,超声医师应提高对该病的认识。