Sunday, April 17, 2011

Dermoid cyst of ovary:

Dermoid cysts of ovary are also known as mature cystic teratoma or benign teratomas of the ovary. This young lady in her early twenties was found to have bilateral dermoid cysts of the ovaries, although small ones at 2 to 3 cms. size.


The above ultrasound video clip shows one such case with dermoid cysts in both ovaries.
The mature cystic teratoma or dermoid cysts are seen as hyperechoic masses in the ovaries.
See: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/ovaries.htm#Ovarian_dermoid_cyst_or_Cystic_teratomas

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Adenomyomatosis of gallbladder


The ultrasound video clip above is a classic example of adenomyomatosis of the gall bladder. This word sounds similar to adenomyosis but there is a world of a difference between these two terms. Adenomyosis is a disease of the uterus and is characterized by development of endometrial tissue within the walls of the muscular layer of the uterus and is hence seen only in women.
   Adenomyomatosis, on the other hand, is a disease of the gall bladder and is of a chronic nature resulting in fine stones (GB calculi made of cholesterol usually) within crypts in the thickened gallbladder walls.
Read more on this topic at: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/gb-wall.htm#Diffuse_adenomyomatosis_of_gall_bladder
One more ultrasound video clip of this condition is shown below:
 
In addition to the diagnosis of adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder, observe the large stone or GB calculus seen in the gall bladder neck.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Fetal cardiac activity in 6 weeks embryo

This 6 week old pregnancy came for ultrasound imaging to check for the viability of the embryo. Ultrasound imaging could barely visualize the embryo, due to maternal obesity. On zooming in on the embryo, we could visualize this embryo with a suggestion of cardiac activity.


A color Doppler ultrasound study of the embryo showed this:

Clearly, the embryonic cardiac activity is visualized as a blip of color on Color Doppler. This helped avoid a transvaginal ultrasound scan study.
Spectral Doppler trace of the embryonic heart further confirmed normal cardiac activity and heart rate in the early embryo (HR= 130 beats/minute).
Visit: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/early-pregnancy.htm

Friday, March 25, 2011

Polycystic ovary- PCOD:

Polycystic ovaries (PCO or polycystic ovary disease- PCOD) and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) are the bane of the modern age women. A significant percentage of the female populace suffers from Polycystic ovaries. These ultrasound videos show the changes that take place in the PCO affected ovaries:

The above ultrasound video shows the right ovary of this young adult female patient. Observe the multiple cysts within the right ovary, all of which are small and located along the rim of the enlarged right ovary.

Similar change are observed in the left ovary (above).


The ultrasound video clip above shows both ovaries as we sweep across the pelvis with the endocavity sonographic probe. The uterus itself does not show prominent changes. However, the chief complaint of such patients is irregular menses with many reporting missing menstrual periods for as long as 1 to 5 months. Often medication alone cannot salvage the condition and surgical intervention is indicated, especially, when the patient wishes to conceive.
You can read and view more images of this case at:
http://www.ultrasound-images.com/ovaries.htm#Polycystic_ovaries_%28polycystic_ovary_disease-_PCOD

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Milk of calcium cysts of the kidneys

Milk of calcium cysts must be differentiated from more ominous conditions like kidney stones and angiomyolipoma (a relatively common kidney tumor). These ultrasound videos show the typical feature of milk of calcium cysts- their tendency to gravitate to the dependent part of the cyst on postural change.


The video clip above shows the calcium salts in the right of the cyst (viewer's right), in the sitting posture.


Now observe the 2nd sonographic video clip above: the milk of calcium has shifted in position with change of the patient's position to the right lateral decubitus position.
References: http://bjr.birjournals.org/cgi/reprint/37/433/70.pdf 
Also:  http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/113/3/455.pdf
This link is also useful:  http://www.ultrasound-images.com/kidneys.htm#Milk_of_Calcium_cyst

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Adenomyosis of the uterus

The uterus has two parts, functionally speaking, the endometrium (or the inner lining of the uterus) and the myometrium (the thick muscular wall of the uterus). During menses, a part of the endometrial lining is shed along with the menstrual blood. In women with adenomyosis there is ectopic (abnormally located) endometrial tissue located deep inside the wall of the uterus (myometrium). This ectopic (adenomyotic tissue) also undergoes menstrual bleeding resulting in severe pain within the wall of the uterus (dysmenorrhea). Many experts believe that adenomyosis is one of the leading causes of pain during menses in women. These ultrasound and color Doppler videos show marked congestion (increased vascularity) within the hyperechoic lesion in the posterior wall of the body of the uterus. This lesion represents the site of adenomyosis.


This is a transvaginal gray ultrasound video (above) showing the inhomogenous hyperechoic area in the posterior wall of the myometrium in the body of the uterus (arrows).
The color Doppler video below shows hypervascularity in the lesion:
  
This ultrasound and color Doppler video shows a transverse section of the uterus, panning the probe from superior to the inferior part of the uterus.(see below).
   
The adenomyotic lesion is seen to compress upon the endometrial stripe also, adding to the woes of the patient.
Lastly this Power Doppler video further shows the increased vascularity/ hyperemia of the entire uterus, besides that of the adenomyotic lesion.

 
For more on this topic: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/uterus.htm#Adenomyosis_of_uterus

Monday, March 21, 2011

Copper -T (IUCD)

Visualizing the IUCD or intra-uterine contraceptive device by sonography is perhaps the easiest and best way to determine if the IUCD is in its proper location. Normally, the copper-T should be seen with its horizontal arm in the fundus and the vertical part of the T in the body of uterus (within the uterine cavity). The ultrasound images below show the normally located IUCD



The dense white stripe seen in the uterine cavity, is the IUCD, seen in both transverse and sagittal planes.
These videos show the method of scanning the uterus to detect the IUCD:


  
Problems with IUCD or IUD (intra-uterine devices) include, migration of the IUCD/ IUD through the wall of the uterus (ie: the myometrium), to enter the wall of the uterus, by literally piercing the uterine wall, over a period of time. Other complications include infection/ sepsis of the uterus. Ultrasound imaging helps to detect all these problems accurately. Where needed, a transvaginal scan of the uterus and pelvis can help exclude such complications. In rare cases, the IUCD/ IUD might be found within the pelvis, outside the uterus.