DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA IN ECHOGRAPHIC STUDY OF ABDOMINAL LESIONS

¹ Professor, Department of Radiology, Ohio State University, College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
² Resident, Department of Radiology, U. S. Naval Hospital, San Diego, California.

Based on the experience with over 600 abdominal B-scan echograms, diagnostic principles and signs are discussed. These include: requirements for complete mapping of the abdomen; and demonstration of the lesion in scans obtained in 2 planes and at several instrument sensitivity settings.

Certain characteristic echographic appearances can be correlated with the underlying pathophysiologic or anatomic changes and are discussed as "echographic signs." These include: the through-transmission sign; the mass outline sign; the double contour sign; the absent contour sign; the compressed tissue sign; the intraorgan echo sign; and the distribution pattern sign.

The use of echographic scanning as a diagnostic method rather than as a novel display of known pathology cannot be overemphasized.

Systematic approach to patient examination and scan interpretation is needed for consistent and correct diagnoses.

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