Introduction Flashcards
Pathology
The precise study and diagnosis of disease
What are the 4 components of disease?
- Cause/etiology
- Pathogenesis
- Morphologic changes
- Clinical manifestations
What is the sonographers role?
- Obtain information
- Review lab data
- Tailor to the exam
Why do you tailor to the exam?
In order to get the best information possible to answer the clinical question
What are 6 examples of optimizing tools?
- Depth
- Focal zone
- Gain
- Zoom
- TGC
- THI
- harmonics
When can you apply colour doppler?
On any abnormal mass
What is a benefit to power doppler?
It is more sensitive that colour doppler (motion sensitive)
- can use it when not much colour is shown
What do we look at first to determine if something is bad in a patient? (4)
- Patient history
- Age
- Sex
- Clinical findings
Lesion
General term describing any type of abnormality seen on imaging
- lump/bump on the skin or in a solid organ
- may be cystic or solid
Nodule
A small mass of rounded or irregular shape
Mass
An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from multiplication of cells
Where are nodules found? (4)
- Within organ parenchyma
- On tendons
- On muscles
- On vocal cords
Where are nodules found? (4)
- Within organ parenchyma
- On tendons
- On muscles
- On vocal cords
Can nodules be benign or cancerous?
Either
What are 2 synonyms for a mass?
- Tumour
2. Neoplasia
What can a mass do?
It may push or displace surrounding tissue or vessels
What are 7 examples of tumour characterization terminology?
- Consistency
- Echogenicity
- Echotexture
- Contour
- Mass effect/invading
- Vascularity
- Multiple/single
What are 3 examples of consistency?
- Solid
- Liquid
- Mixed
Solid consistency
Might attenuate, or no enhancement
Liquid consistency
Posterior enhancement
Mixed consistency
Both might attenuate, or no enhancement and posterior enhancement
What are 4 examples of echogenicity?
- Hypoechoic
- Hyperechoic
- Anechoic
- Isoechoic
What are 2 examples of echotexture?
- Homogenous
2. Heterogenous
What are 2 examples of contour?
- Irregular
2. Smooth margins or well delineated
What are 2 examples of relation to adjacent organs or structures?
- Mass effect
2. Invading
Mass effect
Pushing or displacing
Invading
Moving into another structure
When do you get shadowing typically?
With calcified structures
What can invading cause?
Clotting
What is another term for hypervascular?
Hyperemic
How does fat show on a CT scan?
Anechoic
What kind of artifact occurs with cystic lesions?
Posterior enhancement
- through transmission of sound
What are 4 characteristics of benign?
- No vascularity
- Peripheral vascularity
- Smooth contour or margins
- Slow growing
What are 6 characteristics of malignant?
- Highly vascular
- Irregular margins
- Bulls eye or halo
- Rapid growth
- History of cancer
- What organ it affects?
What does multiple solid liver masses-suggest?
Metastatic or multifocal disease
- may be benign
What is important for interpretation of lesions?
Clinical history
- of malignancy
- chronic liver disease
- hepatitis
- symptoms
What does central necrosis look like?
Hyperechoic rim with fluid on the inside (anechoic)
What does central necrosis mean?
The tissue is starting to die
What does a bulls eye look like?
Hypoechoic rim with a hyperechoic centre
What is a good indication of an ominous sign?
Hypoechoic halo
Acute symptoms (3)
- Sudden and high pain
- Fever
- RLQ
Chronic symptoms (3)
- Pain off and on for longer
- On treatment for other conditions
- LLQ
What can RLQ pain be caused from?
Appendicitis
What can LLQ pain be caused from?
Constipation
What are examples of secondary signs? (3)
- Inflammation
- Fluid
- Increased lymph nodes ***
