Medical Imaging - Page 2

SurgeryHepatobiliary Surgery

Gallbladder ultrasound

Gallbladder ultrasound refers to the use of ultrasound technology to examine the gallbladder and bile ducts. It is commonly used to diagnose diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts, and can also be used for ultrasound-guided gallbladder puncture and drainage. Clinically, gallbladder ultrasound is rarely performed alone. It is usually performed together with the liver, pancreas, and spleen, i.e., liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen ultrasound. Examination Methods B-mode ultrasound: This is a conventional scan that allows doctors to observe changes in gallbladder morphology. It is relatively inexpensive and usually the first choice. Doppler ultrasound: This can be used to assess gallbladder vascular lesions and hemodynamic changes. It is slightly more expensive. Indications Routine physical examination. Abdominal trauma with suspected liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or spleen injury. Symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly, with suspected liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or spleen disease. Symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, chest pain, back pain, hematuria, and fever, requiring exclusion of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or spleen disease. Abnormal liver function (including elevated bilirubin) found in biochemical tests, with suspected liver and gallbladder disease. Regular follow-up for patients with gallbladder diseases such as cholecystitis, gallbladder polyps, and gallstones. Results are usually available immediately after the examination. For complex cases or those requiring expert consultation, the report delivery time may be delayed.

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SurgeryHepatobiliary Surgery

Liver ultrasound

SurgeryHepatobiliary Surgery

Spleen ultrasound

Ultrasound examination is a physical examination method that utilizes the principle of focused sound beams during ultrasound wave propagation and different reflection rates at different material interfaces. It is non-invasive and non-interfering to the patient, making it one of the most commonly used auxiliary examination methods in clinical medical practice. Spleen ultrasound is primarily used to observe the morphology of the spleen and assist in the diagnosis of spleen-related diseases. Types of Examinations Based on different examination methods and equipment, spleen ultrasound examinations can be broadly categorized into the following types, each with different focuses, slightly different application scenarios, and their own advantages and disadvantages. Transabdominal Ultrasound: An ultrasound examination performed by scanning the patient's abdomen with a transabdominal ultrasound probe. Its convenience, speed, non-invasiveness, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness make it the most commonly used examination method. Endoscopic Ultrasound: An ultrasound examination performed by inserting a specially designed endoscopic ultrasound probe into the patient's digestive tract, similar to a gastroscopy, and scanning through the gastrointestinal tract. Intraoperative Ultrasound: An ultrasound examination performed in real-time during surgery using an intraoperative ultrasound probe to scan the spleen and its adjacent organ structures. Endoscopic ultrasound and intraoperative ultrasound are suitable for patients where non-invasive imaging examinations such as transabdominal ultrasound, CT, and MRI cannot provide sufficient and effective information, where the diagnosis is uncertain, or where there is a simultaneous need for treatment or intervention.

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SurgeryHepatobiliary Surgery

Pancreatic ultrasound

Pancreatic ultrasound is an examination that uses ultrasound equipment to evaluate the pancreas and its adjacent organ structures, with corresponding interventions taken if necessary. Based on the examination method and equipment, pancreatic ultrasound can be broadly divided into the following types: Transabdominal Ultrasound: This is the most commonly used method due to its non-invasiveness and cost-effectiveness. In most cases, the information obtained from transabdominal ultrasound is sufficient for diagnosing diseases. However, for patients who are morbidly obese, have thick abdominal walls, or are uncooperative, the examination results may be compromised. Therefore, further examinations such as CT or MRI may be required. Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): This examination is suitable for patients where non-invasive imaging examinations such as transabdominal ultrasound, CT, or MRI cannot provide sufficient and effective information, where the diagnosis is uncertain, or where there is a simultaneous need for treatment or intervention. In EUS, the ultrasound signal penetrates the gastrointestinal wall to reach the pancreatic tissue directly, unlike transabdominal ultrasound which needs to pass through multiple layers such such as the abdominal wall, omentum, and gastrointestinal wall. This results in less interference, more comprehensive and accurate signal acquisition, and higher diagnostic value. Intraoperative Ultrasound: This examination has a narrower scope of application than the previous two and is generally used during surgical procedures for precise localization of lesions, guiding biopsies, designing ablation or surgical resection plans, assessing safety, and evaluating treatment efficacy. In addition to the above conventional examinations, for highly vascularized lesions, enhanced ultrasound examinations, also known as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, can be performed with the aid of special drugs (e.g., SonoVue). Due to disease characteristics and economic factors, the effectiveness of this examination method varies and it is not routinely recommended.

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SurgeryUrology

Renal ultrasound

Renal ultrasound is one of the most economical and practical examination techniques. It is safe and non-invasive, and can quickly determine the position, size, shape, and internal distribution of the kidneys, as well as detect kidney problems such as tumors, stones, and cysts. When kidney disease is unclear or cannot be definitively diagnosed, renal ultrasound is almost always used to assist in diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

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SurgeryBreast Surgery

Breast ultrasound

Breast ultrasound examination is a technique that uses a high-frequency ultrasound probe to perform a comprehensive and systematic ultrasound scan of both breasts (including the axilla). It mainly includes: 2D ultrasound: This is the black and white ultrasound we usually see. Color Doppler ultrasound: This is what we usually call color ultrasound. Elastography: This is mainly used to evaluate the hardness of space-occupying lesions in the breast. Generally, malignant tumors are harder, and benign tumors are softer. Differences between breast ultrasound and mammography, X-ray, and MRI examinations Mammography can accurately display calcifications and spicules, especially microcalcifications, with a higher detection rate than ultrasound. However, it involves radiation and is not suitable for repeated examinations. Tumors at the edge of the breast are easily missed. MRI has high resolution for soft tissue lesions, but 5% to 12% of invasive cancers cannot be detected. Moreover, MRI is expensive and not suitable for repeated examinations. Ultrasound examination is radiation-free, harmless, and inexpensive. It is suitable for general screening and dynamic follow-up of suspicious lesions. It can observe the blood flow of suspicious masses, and its display of axillary lymph nodes is superior to mammography. Interpretation of Breast BI-RADS Classification Results Category 0: Indicates the need for other auxiliary examinations. Category 1: Indicates no mass. Category 2: Indicates the mass is benign. Category 3: Indicates the mass is likely benign, but re-examination and follow-up are required in the short term. Category 4: Indicates the mass is suspicious for malignancy, and biopsy is recommended. Category 4A: Low suspicion for malignancy. Category 4B: Moderate suspicion for malignancy. Category 4C: High suspicion for malignancy but not definite. Category 5: Indicates the mass is highly suspicious for malignancy. Category 6: Indicates the mass has been pathologically confirmed as malignant.

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SurgeryThoracic Surgery

Chest CT

Chest CT is a method of examining the chest using X-ray computed tomography (CT), which can be used to screen for and diagnose diseases of the lungs, trachea, heart, chest wall, mediastinum, sternum, and other areas.

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Internal MedicineEndocrinology

Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland caused by infection, autoimmunity, and other factors. It is more common in middle-aged and young women and is characterized by abnormalities in thyroid size, texture, and function. Due to thyroid damage, patients may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. According to the speed of onset, it can be divided into acute thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, and chronic thyroiditis.

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Internal MedicineEndocrinology

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, is a systemic hypometabolic syndrome caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormones or reduced action of thyroid hormones due to various reasons. Hypothyroidism is more common in women (the prevalence in women is about 10 times that in men), people over 60 years old, and those with a family history or a history of autoimmune diseases.

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