A sonographic atlas of the thyroid- on Amazon

This short handbook and ultrasound atlas of the thyroid should serve as a guide for the busy sonologist, radiologist or medical practitioner who wishes to gain insight into the intricacies of sonography and color Doppler imaging of the thyroid. A short section on the appendix towards the end of the book casts light on ultrasound imaging of common pathologies of the appendix. This book is sold on amazon at a reasonable price. 

Cerebral edema in neonates

Cerebral edema remains one of the commonest problems encountered whilst doing sonographic imaging of the neonatal brain. It has been graded into mild, moderate and severe depending on the degree of effacement or compression of the ventricular system- the lateral and 3rd veintricles mainly, and also loss of the sulcal pattern of the baby's brain.
These ultrasound images of severe cerebral edema show the typical appearance with the lateral and 3rd ventricles virtually compressed out of visibility by the edematous neonatal cerebral tissue (the sulcal pattern is however, still preserved and is visible):
Sagittal section:

Coronal section:

Color Doppler coronal section image:

Coronal section brain (all images of same neonate):

Visit: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/pediatric.htm#Cerebral_edema_in_neonate
for more on this topic.

Twinkle (color Doppler) artifacts in urinary calculi

It has been observed that small color flow artifacts called twinkle artifacts form around and posterior to kidney, ureteric and bladder stones. These color twinkle artifacts can at times be helpful in recognizing small urinary calculi that may be sometimes be obscure. The color Doppler ultrasound video clip below shows a typical case of twinkle artifacts behind a left vesico-ureteric calculus, measuring 5 mm.
 

 
These color Doppler and B mode ultrasound images reveal the twinkle around the left VUJ stone in detail.

Mild hydronephrosis is present in the left kidney due to back pressure changes in left ureter.
My personal observation is that twinkle artifacts can at best help confirm the presence of small renal/ urinary calculi and not be used in isolation to sonographically diagnose a urinary calculus. These artifacts are better seen on lowering the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) to optimal levels. Twinkling can at times be used to aid diagnosis of urinary stones when acoustic shadowing may be doubtful.
References:
http://radiology.rsna.org/content/259/3/911.abstract (abstract - effectiveness of color Twinkle artifact in detecting small urinary stones).
Images and description of twinkle artifacts
Also visit : http://www.ultrasound-images.com/ureteric-calculi.htm
and:  http://www.ultrasound-images.com/renal-calculi.htm

Ultrasound study of gastric band

I have described a little about gastric banding at : http://www.ultrasound-images.com/git.htm#Gastric_band_%28gastric_banding_in_obesity%29
Gastric band is a simple "tourniquet" around the upper part of the stomach, just below the fundus, aimed at reducing the functional volume of the stomach. This is useful in controlling the food intake in obese patients. What has ultrasound got to do with gastric band? Plenty- ultrasound imaging of the gastric band post-surgical case helps determine the position and effectiveness of the gastric band. How good is ultrasound at imaging it? Have a  look at the link above.

Sonographic atlas of thyroid and appendix

I have published a short handbook of "Sonography of the Thyroid and Appendix"... This book is available at this link online:
Sonographic atlas of the thyroid and appendix
This short textbook is published by Jaypee brothers in India and is marketed worldwide online by a number of publishers.
See: http://www.printsasia.com/book/Step-by-Step-Sonographic-Atlas-of-Thyroid-Appendix-Joe-Anthony-8184489986-9788184489989
Shown here is a snap shot of the cover:

 

This book attempts to bridge the gap in imaging of the thyroid using high resolution ultrasound images of the thyroid. Almost very thyroid pathology is covered in this short ultrasound atlas of the thyroid and appendix. 

This handbook of ultrasound imaging of the thyroid also has a short section on ultrasound imaging of the appendix. Here we cover most of the pathologies of the appendix as visualized on ultrasonography.
    Priced at very affordable rates, both in India and abroad, this short atlas of ultrasound of the thyroid and appendix should cater to the newbie (beginner) in the field of sonography of the thyroid as well as the appendix, both of which are relatively gray areas in ultrasound imaging.
Other dealers selling this text book of thyroid sonography are:
1) Sonography of the thyroid-  Jaypee brothers website
2) http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/16697477/used/Sonographic%20Atlas%20of%20Thyroid%20%26%20Appendix
3) http://www.amazon-sy.com/?q=en/Product/view/12856/198
Another online dealer who sells this handy manual of thyroid imaging is:
4) http://www.bookshopofindia.com/search.asp?action1=default&bookid=9081727
5) http://www.maansu.com/9788184489989
6) Sonographic atlas of the thyroid and appendix- Amega books
7) http://www.flipkart.com/b/books/step-sonographic-atlas-thyroid-appendix-book-8184489986
8) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Step-Sonographic-Atlas-Thyroid-Appendix/dp/8184489986 (sold on amazon.com in UK)
9) http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/joe+antony/sonographic+atlas+of+thyroid+26+appendix/8293107/   (also on waterstones.com in UK)
10) http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=9788184489989
(whsmith.com in UK)
  11) http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Sonographic-Atlas-of-Thyroid-Appendix-Antony/9788184489989
in Australia
12) http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Sonographic-Atlas-Thyroid-Appendix-Antony/9788184489989
(in UK)
13) http://www.sparkbooks.in/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_49&products_id=11270
14) http://www.medilinebooks.com/onlinebooks.php?category=Step%20by%20Step%20Series&PHPSESSID=0f84112845b9839f5351c838b487834b (mediline books)

Nice links on kidney stones:

My last blog was on kidney stones (renal calculi and urinary calculi). Here are some really good links on urinary stone disease:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/437096-workup#aw2aab6b5b6
As usual emedicine has done some really good work up on kidney stones, from symptoms to treatment. But on ultrsonography of kidney stones visit: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/renal-calculi/
For the patient and layman visit:
http://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_stone/article.htm
For information on medullary sponge kidneys visit:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/379323-overview#a22

Kidney stones- renal calculi- urinary stones

Renal stones or Kidney stones:
(This article is meant for both the layperson and those new to the science and art of sonography).
Most urinary stones or calculi as they are called in medical parlance, originate in the kidneys. Some are also known to form in the urinary bladder due to stasis of urine or collection of urine within the urinary bladder. Kidney stones in the urinary system pass from the kidney (renal calculi) to the ureter and thence, down to the urinary bladder.
One of the simplest and most inexpensive methods of diagnosing renal stones (kidney stones) is ultrasound imaging.
The symptoms of kidney stone include- passage of blood in the urine, or hematuria or pain in the side of the abdomen, along the flanks. Pain is usually the first symptom and may be the only sign of kidney stone. However, I have come across many patients who have absolutely no symptoms at all and kidney stone disease may be found only incidentally during an ultrasound scan. With phosphate stones in the kidney, the stone or kidney calculus may actually reach a very large size over a period of time (many years) and yet the patient may be unaware of the disease.
  Here are some ultrasound images of kidney stones:

Case 1: Left kidney stone- in the renal pelvis:

The urinary bladder in this lady appears normal as are the uterus and adenxae (ovaries).

The above ultrasound images show a large stone in the left kidney. The right kidney appears normal. The renal stone/ calculus is within the central part of the kidney called the renal pelvis, within which the urine from the kidney enters or collects. From here the urine passes to the ureter or muscular tube from the renal pelvis to the urinary bladder. The kidney stone here measures 1.8 cms., and has not produced any significant obstruction to the passage of urine to the left ureter below- this despite the large size of the left renal calculus. We can say this because there is no hydronephrosis of the left kidney. We shall discuss this term in detail below:

Case-2: Kidney stone causing moderate hydronephrosis of the left kidney

This patient shows a typical kidney stone location called PUJ calculus or stone located at the pelvi-ureteric junction, in the left kidney. The PUJ or UPJ is the junction between the renal pelvis and the ureter and is pretty narrow. The large kidney stone (shown above) is unable to pass down into the left ureter, and has become stuck at the narrow junction causing partial flow of urine downwards through this bottle-neck.

This has resulted in back pressure due to collection of urine within the collecting system of the left kidney causing the left kidney to "balloon up". This condition is called hydronephrosis and we can see this change in the obstructed left kidney above. If not treated quickly (meaning within a few months), this kidney could pass to a stage of severe hydronephrosis and ultimately become non functional or result in what is called renal failure.
Case-3: Hydronephrosis due to left PUJ calculus:

This is yet another case of left PUJ/ UPJ calculus with a relatively small kidney stone stuck at the narrow left uretero-pelvic junction with resulting left kidney swelling or hydronephrosis.(Note :-) kidney stones shown here are from 3 different patients and there is no evidence that the left kidney has a greater chance of being affected by stone disease).

The above ultrasound video clip shows the left PUJ stone in a better perspective with the resultant left hydronephrosis.
From the above ultrasound case studies of kidney stones, it is obvious that small stones can produce more trouble for the patient if located in a critical location, and that the size of the kidney stone alone is not the only factor that causes symptoms and clinical complaints and complications.
In case 1 above despite the large size of the kidney stone, its location above the narrow bottle neck called the pelvi-ureteric junction, has resulted in absence of any hydroneprhosis in the affected left kidney.
In cases 2 and 3, there is significant ballooning of the kidney as a result of the kidney stone being located at the PUJ (the bottle neck). In case -3 the kidney stone is less than half the size of the stone seen in case-1.

Case-4: Right mid ureteric calculus with right hydronephrosis:

This patient shows  moderately severe hydronephrosis of the right kidney. This is seen as collection of urine (dark space within the right kidney- image on left side). However there is no stone visualized in this ultrasound image. The left kidney appears normal (image on right half of the picture above).

We tried to trace the dilated (distended) right ureter (called hydroureter) downwards and this is what we found. There is a stone (ureteric calculus) in middle third of the right ureter, and it is pretty large (at 1.7 cms.). Tracing stones in the ureter can be a very cumbersome task and much of this depends on displacing gas distended bowel away from the front of the ureter. This is done by gently pressure with the ultrasound probe. This ureteral stone originated in the right kidney and has managed to pass down the right renal pelvis and right PUJ down to the middle of the ureter. This patient has experienced severe pain (called ureteric colic) as the stone irritates the soft muscle of the ureter. The next task for the stone is to negotiate the next major bottle neck in its passage downwards- the right VUJ (vesico-ureteric junction). This is the narrowest point in the urinary tract and is the point of entry of the ureter into the urinary bladder. We shall next see what happens when a stone gets impacted at the VUJ (vesico-ureteric junction).

Have a look at the ultrasound video clip of this case:

Case-5: Right vesico-ureteric Junction calculus:
The next destination that the kidney stone has to reach on its way out in the urinary system is the urinary bladder. But unfortunately for the patient, things are not so easy, and the narrow bottle-neck called the vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ) being the narrowest point in the urinary tract, most stones lodge here for some time before being expelled into the urinary bladder.
This is one such case-

This young adult male shows a small stone impacted in the right VUJ (ultrasound image of urinary bladder above). At 5 mm. size this urinary stone has transited successfully all the way from the right kidney, down the right ureter, and has almost made it to the bladder! But it has not quite made it. The stone is stuck in this narrow point, despite its small size. What is its effect on the right kidney? See the ultrasound image below:

 

Even a stone as small as 5 mm. is able to wreak havoc on the right kidney, which shows moderate hydronephrosis with right hydroureter. The left kidney appears relatively normal in this ultrasound image of the kidneys.

Case-6: Left VUJ calculus:

 

This is another patient with severe left flank pain. The ultrasound image of the urinary bladder above shows a suspicious looking areas in the left VUJ (vesico-ureteric junction). Most probably this is a stone in the left VUJ.

 

When in doubt, I switch on the color Doppler ultrasound button, and the result was a little twinkling (the blue color- arrow)  around the left VUJ. This is a clear sign of a stone here.

When we examined the left kidney, this is what we saw (ultrasound image of left kidney- below):

There is clear evidence of left hydronephrosis in this image above. The final diagnosis was- left VUJ calculus with resultant left hydronephrosis.

Final destination- the Urinary bladder:
Case-7: bladder sediments and debris:

 

What this image shows is transrectal ultrasound imaging (TRUS) study of the prostate (the triangular soft tissue structure in upper part of image). But what is even more striking is the particulate matter within the urinary bladder below (this is an upside down ultrasound image of the bladder). This is common finding in elderly male patients with urinary tract infection- the debris (particles) within the bladder being a sign of that.

Have a look at the TRUS ultrasound video clip of this patient:

The motion of the particles within the urinary bladder can be fully appreciated in this ultrasound video clip. particulate matter of this type can often result in colloid gel like matter forming the nidus (precursor) for stone formation in the urinary bladder. Thus elderly male patients with chronic difficulty in urination can sometimes develop urinary bladder stones. See: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/urinary-bladder/#Large%20urinary%20bladder%20calculus

Case-8: Urinary bladder stones:
As said earlier there are various causes for the formation of bladder stones. Chronic obstructive conditions in the lower urinary tract such as patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy can often develop urinary bladder stones.
These ultrasound images are of an elderly male with benign prostatic enlargement. There is a stone of 1.5 cms. seen in the urinary bladder in both transabdominal and transrectal ultrasound images (see below).

Transabdominal ultrasound image of stone in urinary bladder (arrow). Also seen is a Foley catheter bulb within the bladder.

Transrectal ultrasound image showing urinary bladder stone (above)....arrow.
Shown below is the TRUS ultrasound video clip of the bladder stone:

Bulky uterus

The above ultrasound images show what is called a bulky uterus. This term is used when the uterus is larger than normal for the age of the patient. The common causes include -1) the post partum stage (after delivery/ childbirth), when the uterus is still large in size after delivery (the process of shrinking in size of the uterus to its normal size is called involution), 2) fibroids, 3) adenomyosis etc. These patients often complain of discomfort in the pelvic region and menstrual problems. Another cause of enlarged or bulky uterus in middle aged women is increase in the BMI (body mass index). Higher the BMI and obesity are associated with larger or bulkier uterus. See this link: Bulky uterus and obesity The ultrasound images above show a diffusely enlarged uterus with no evidence of masses (tumors) or other pathologies.

The above is an ultrasound video clip of a case of bulky uterus seen in sagittal section. Observe the increased size of the liver without any other pathology. This was a middle aged (52 year) old female patient with back pain. Bulky uterus is a common finding among middle aged menopausal women.

This middle aged lady with the bulky uterus (same case as above) also has a significant deposition of fat within the liver, resulting in moderate fatty change. Many middle aged Asian women present with both bulky uterus and fatty liver.