Ultrasound Glossary

A rare but dangerous condition in which pregnancies exist simultaneously inside and outside the uterus.

The area where blood vessels, nerves, and ducts enter or exit an organ, serving as an important landmark in ultrasound examinations.

Fluid within the hip joint capsule that can be detected with ultrasound, important for diagnosing infections and inflammatory conditions.

The ball-and-socket joint connecting the thigh bone to the pelvis, evaluated with ultrasound in infants for developmental dysplasia and in all ages for effusions.

A congenital condition in which the two kidneys are connected at their lower poles by a bridge of tissue, forming a horseshoe shape.

A parasitic cyst caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus, most commonly found in the liver, with a characteristic appearance on ultrasound.

A collection of fluid around the testicle within the scrotal sac, appearing on ultrasound as a clear, dark fluid surrounding the testis.

Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain’s ventricles, causing them to enlarge and potentially compress brain tissue.

Dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces due to obstruction of urine outflow, graded by severity on ultrasound.

A fallopian tube that is blocked and distended with fluid, appearing on ultrasound as a tubular, fluid-filled structure in the pelvis.

Fluid accumulation in the space between the lungs and chest wall, readily detected with ultrasound as a dark collection above the diaphragm.

Abnormal dilation of the ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder, usually caused by an obstruction downstream.

Appearing brighter than surrounding tissue on ultrasound, indicating stronger echo reflection.

Increased blood flow to a tissue or organ, visible on color Doppler ultrasound as an increase in the number and intensity of color signals.

A condition in which the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone, often caused by an adenoma that can be located with ultrasound.

High blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, whose effects on the heart and blood vessels are commonly evaluated with ultrasound.

A condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, which can be evaluated with thyroid ultrasound and Doppler.

A genetic heart condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, diagnosed primarily through echocardiography.

A form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in which the thickened heart muscle blocks the flow of blood out of the left ventricle during contraction.

An increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to enlargement of its individual cells, commonly seen in the heart and kidneys on ultrasound.

Appearing darker than surrounding tissue on ultrasound, indicating weaker echo reflection.

Underdevelopment or incomplete development of an organ or tissue, resulting in a smaller-than-normal structure visible on ultrasound.

A severe congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped, detectable on prenatal echocardiography.

A condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, which can cause changes in the thyroid’s ultrasound appearance.

The last and longest segment of the small intestine, connecting to the large intestine, occasionally visualized during abdominal ultrasound.

One of two major arteries that branch from the abdominal aorta to supply blood to the pelvis and lower extremities.

One of the major veins draining the lower body that can be evaluated with ultrasound for blood clots and compression syndromes.

A major hip flexor muscle group that runs from the spine through the pelvis, evaluable with ultrasound for abscesses, bursitis, and tendon injuries.

An artery branching from the aorta that supplies blood to the lower portion of the large intestine.

A vein draining the lower large intestine that empties into the splenic vein, sometimes visible on abdominal ultrasound.

The largest vein in the body, carrying blood from the lower body back to the heart, routinely evaluated during abdominal ultrasound and echocardiography.

A sonographic assessment of IVC diameter change with respiration used to estimate right atrial pressure and volume status.

The use of ultrasound guidance for minimally invasive procedures such as biopsies, aspirations, drainages, and injections.

The innermost layer of a blood vessel wall, where atherosclerotic plaque begins to form, directly visible on high-resolution ultrasound.

A measurement of the combined thickness of the arterial intima and media layers on carotid ultrasound, used as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis.

A small contraceptive device placed inside the uterus that is visible on ultrasound, commonly checked to confirm correct positioning.

A condition in which the fetus fails to reach its growth potential, defined by ultrasound biometry and Doppler surveillance.

Bleeding into the ventricles of the brain, most common in premature infants, and one of the primary reasons for neonatal cranial ultrasound.

A condition in which one segment of intestine telescopes into an adjacent segment, causing obstruction, diagnosed with ultrasound in children.

Appearing at the same brightness as surrounding tissue on ultrasound, making a lesion difficult to distinguish from normal tissue.

A narrow bridge of tissue connecting two larger structures, most commonly referring to the thin band connecting the two lobes of the thyroid gland.

The middle segment of the small intestine, located between the duodenum and ileum, occasionally evaluated with ultrasound for wall thickening or obstruction.

Abnormal fluid accumulation within a joint capsule, readily detected by ultrasound and important for diagnosing infection, arthritis, and injury.

One of the large veins in the neck that drains blood from the head, frequently evaluated during vascular ultrasound and used for central venous access.

One of two bean-shaped organs that filter blood and produce urine, among the most frequently evaluated structures in abdominal ultrasound.

A fluid-filled sac within the kidney that is usually simple and benign, classified by the Bosniak system when complex features are present.

A hard mineral deposit that forms within the kidney, appearing on ultrasound as a bright structure with a dark shadow behind it.

A surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a donor is placed in a patient with kidney failure, with ultrasound used for monitoring before and after the operation.

The informal term for understanding and operating the various controls, settings, and adjustments on an ultrasound machine.

A specialized immune cell that lines the blood vessels inside the liver and plays a role in how the liver interacts with contrast agents on ultrasound.