Echogenicity of the pancreas( echogenic in ultrasound) and its changes - medium, mixed, isoechoic, what is it?

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When examining internal organs, a significant indicator is echogenicity, which provides an opportunity to assess the density of the organ being examined. Changing it in the direction of increasing or decreasing it is a serious reason for turning to doctors.

Different organs will be differently displayed on ultrasound, for example, fluid structures such as pseudocysts, bladder, endocrine glands, gall bladder and others, filter out ultrasonic waves without reflecting them, and are considered to be echo negative. And even when ultrasound performance is enhanced, the result does not change. While denser structures, such as bones, do not transmit ultrasound waves, but reflect them due to their structure.

On the ultrasound of the abdominal cavity organs, the parenchyma of the liver is taken as a sample, and the mapping of other organs, including the pancreas, is compared with its parameters.

Often after the procedure of ultrasound in the forms with the results of the procedure, you can find the inscription that the echogenicity is increased / lowered. This inscription means that the patient's gland is susceptible to some kind of inflammatory process. Change the properties of tissue are capable of such ailments as pancreatitis( acute / chronic), tumors, calcification of the gland, enhanced gas formation. Taking as a basis only the diagnosis of altered echogenicity, treatment is not prescribed, since this symptom points to several pancreatic diseases at once. But the combination of symptoms together with the results obtained, allows the attending physician to establish an unmistakable diagnosis to the patient.

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Increased echogenicity is not a diagnosis, but an important characteristic of the pancreas, the changes of which can symbolize the presence of diseases and disorders. Changes in pancreatic echogenicity can occur in the presence of tumors, calcification, edema, inflammatory foci. With the normal functioning of the organ its structure is homogeneous. In the opposite case, pancreatitis can be diagnosed in acute or chronic form, hyperplasia. If the increased echogenicity of iron does not change in size, then it can talk about developing lipomatosis. When it increases, often, there is a decrease in the size of the organ. In this case, the doctor can make a diagnosis, such as fibrosis, as a result of which there is a substitution of cells with connective tissue elements. There are also possible situations where the increase in echogenicity acts as a transient phenomenon, which has to do with chronic diseases, peculiarities of human nutrition.

All the above changes are detected during an ultrasound examination, after which further diagnostics and treatment are prescribed. Treatment is assigned only after the cause of the transformation has been established. The isoechogenic pancreas corresponds to the norm. The average echogenicity of the pancreas is characterized by a homogeneous structure. Often during the ultrasound examination, mixed echogenicity of the pancreas is diagnosed, which differs in a non-uniform structure.

This indicator is a non-permanent factor and can vary under the influence of a variety of reasons. Therefore, such a diagnosis is not final, but requires a follow-up examination. The presence of diffuse formations should not be left without attention.

Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity allows timely detection of tumors, inflammation or other formations, diagnose complications of pancreatitis. The pancreas is a liquid structure and freely transmits ultrasonic waves. This type of examination is recommended in the morning. The scanning process is carried out through the pyloric department on inspiration. The tail is examined through the spleen, the left kidney. Ultrasound is performed on an empty stomach.

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