Echogenicity

Echogenicity

Echogenicity (misspelled sometimes as echogenecity) is the ability to create an echo, i.e. return a signal in ultrasound examinations. Echogenicity could be increased by intravenously administering gas-filled microbubble contrast agent to the systemic circulation. This is because microbubbles have a high degree of echogenicity. When gas bubbles are caught in an ultrasonic frequency field, they compress, oscillate, and reflect a characteristic echo- this generates the strong and unique sonogram in contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Gas cores can be composed of air, or heavy gases like perfluorocarbon, or nitrogen (Lindner, 2004). Heavy gases are less water-soluble so they are less likely to leak out from the microbubble to impair echogenicity (McCulloch "et al.", 2000). Therefore, microbubbles with heavy gas cores are likely to last longer in circulation. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrast-enhanced_ultrasound]

Reasons for higher echogenicity

During ultrasound examinations, sometimes echogenicity is higher in certain parts of body. Fatty liver could cause increased echogenicity in the liver.

Footnotes

ee also

* Contrast-enhanced ultrasound
* Echogenic intracardiac focus
* Ultrasound


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • echogenicity — noun The ability to create an echo, that can be detected in an ultrasound examination. See Also: echogenic …   Wiktionary

  • echogenicity — echo·ge·nic·i·ty (ek″o jen isґĭ te) in ultrasonography, the extent to which a structure gives rise to reflections of ultrasound waves …   Medical dictionary

  • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound — (CEUS) is the application of ultrasound contrast medium to traditional medical sonography. Ultrasound contrast agents rely on the different ways in which sound waves are reflected from interfaces between substances. This may be the surface of a… …   Wikipedia

  • Anisotropy — (pronounced with stress on the third syllable, IPAEng|ˌænaɪˈsɒtrəpi) is the property of being directionally dependent, as opposed to isotropy, which means homogeneity in all directions. It can be defined as a difference in a physical property… …   Wikipedia

  • Hyperthyroidism — Classification and external resources Triiodothyronine (T3, pictured) and thyroxine (T4) are both forms of thyroid hormone. ICD 10 …   Wikipedia

  • Cirrhosis — Classification and external resources A person with massive ascites and caput medusae due to cirrhotic liver failure ICD 10 K …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty liver — ICD9|571.8 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = med eMedicineTopic = 775 MeshName = Fatty+Liver MeshNumber = C06.552.241 Fatty liver, also known as fatty liver disease (FLD), steatorrhoeic hepatosis, or steatosis hepatitis, is a reversible …   Wikipedia

  • 2007 pet food recalls — The 2007 pet food recalls comprise the contamination and wide recall of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in March 2007, and the ensuing developments involving the human food supply. The recalls in North America, Europe, and South Africa …   Wikipedia

  • Hepatic veno-occlusive disease — Classification and external resources ICD 10 K76.5 OMIM 235550 Disease …   Wikipedia

  • echogenic — adjective Describing any inner part of the body that reflects sound waves and thus produces echos that may be detected using ultrasound scanners. See Also: echogenicity …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”