Hypoechoic意思

"Hypoechoic" is a term used in medical imaging, particularly in ultrasound scans, to describe a region or structure that appears darker than the surrounding tissue. This occurs because the tissue or structure in question reflects or absorbs less ultrasound waves than the surrounding tissue, resulting in a lower amplitude of the echoes detected by the ultrasound machine.

In an ultrasound scan, the transducer emits sound waves into the body, and the echoes that bounce back are used to create an image of the internal structures. Hypoechoic areas appear darker because they absorb or scatter the sound waves to a lesser extent than the surrounding tissue, leading to weaker echoes.

Hypoechoic areas can be indicative of various conditions depending on the location and context of the scan. For example, in a breast ultrasound, a hypoechoic area might suggest a cyst or a benign mass. In the abdomen, a hypoechoic structure could represent the liver or a kidney. However, the interpretation of hypoechoic areas should always be made in conjunction with other clinical and imaging findings, as well as with the expertise of a healthcare professional.