Terminology & Echogenicity Flashcards
acoustic Impedance
the resistance that a material offers to sound wave travel
amplitude
the strength or height of a sound wave measured in decibels
anechoic
the appearance of having no internal echoes
Syn: echolucent, sonolucent
artifact
an echo feature present or absent that does not correspond to the presence or absence of a real structure
Common artifacts in breast imaging include enhancement and shadowing
attenuation
the reduction of intensity and amplitude of a sound wave as it passes through a material. Is due to absorption, reflection, and scattering.
complex
a structure that contains both solid and cystic components
cystic
a fluid-filled structure
echogenic
a structure or medium that produces echoes
edge shadowing
decreased echo amplitude distal to the edge of a structure. Results from refraction of the sound beam
enhancement
increased echo amplitude returning from regions lying beyond an object that causes little or no attenuation of the sound beam (typically a cystic structure). This artifact results in a breather than normal appearance.
heterogeneous
a structure that has an uneven texture (hypoechoic and hyperechoic echoes throughout). May be used to describe a mass or tissue in general. Synonym: non-uniform
homogeneous
a structure that has a smooth uniform texture may be used to describe a mass or tissue in general
hyperechoic
a region where the echoes are brighter than normal or brighter than surrounding structures. Synonyms: echodense, sonodense, sonopaque
hypoechoic
a region where the echoes are not as bright as normal or are less bright than surrounding structures
ipsilateral
on the same side
contralateral
on the opposite side
isoechoic
having the same echogenicity as another structure or surrounding tissue
noise
spurious echoes throughout the image. May cause echoes to be seen, especially in fluid
real-time
the scanning and display of images at a sufficiently rapid rate so the moving structures can be seen to move at their natural rate. Frame rates of 15 frames per sec or greater are considered real-time. Allows the sonographer to perform dynamic techniques while scanning to better interrogate breast structures.
🎗reverberation
a type of artifact causing linear echoes parallel to a strong interface; the sound is returned to the transducer than into the tissues repeatedly (bouncing effect).
ring down
a particular type of reverberation artifact in which numerous parallel echoes are seen for a considerable distance
sensitivity
the ability to diagnose disease in a patient when disease is present
shadowing
a reduction in echo amplitudes distal to a strongly attenuating or reflecting structure (usually dense and solid) Results in a less bright than normal appearance.
solid
any structure in the body that produces echoes
sonodense
hyperechoic
sonolucent
result of unattenuated sound beam passing through a fluid-filled structure. Synonym: anechoic, echolucent
superficial
toward the body surface
deep
away from the surface, internal
texture
pattern of echoes seen from a mass or area of interest
echogenicity of fat
mid-level gray
echogenicity of fibroglandular tissue
moderately to markedly hyperechoic
echogenicity of a rib shadow
markedly hypoechoic/anechoic
echogenicity of a cooper’s ligament
markedly hyperechoic
echogenicity of skin
moderately hyperechoic
