Archives: Glossary

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium (the sac around the heart), which may produce an effusion detectable on echocardiography.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs, evaluated by ultrasound for complications like abscess.

Patent ductus arteriosus is a congenital heart condition in which a fetal blood vessel fails to close after birth, diagnosed by echocardiography.

The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland, located in front of the ear, and can be evaluated by ultrasound for masses, stones, and inflammation.

The nuchal fold is a measurement of skin thickening at the back of the fetal neck, used as a prenatal screening marker for chromosomal abnormalities.

Nuchal cord occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around the fetal neck, readily detected on prenatal ultrasound.

Nucleation is the process by which gallstones or kidney stones begin to form, with factors affecting nucleation studied in stone disease research.

Nonimmune hydrops fetalis is severe fluid accumulation in the fetus not caused by Rh incompatibility, detectable on prenatal ultrasound.

Nonechogenic is a term describing structures that do not produce ultrasound echoes, appearing completely dark on ultrasound images.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the accumulation of excess fat in the liver in patients without significant alcohol consumption.