[Echogenicity of blood]. 1992

J Battino

The echogenicity of blood is dependent of the back scattering of the ultra-sound beam by the flowing blood-stream. This black scattering is, according to the Rayleigh theory, proportional to the fourth power of the frequency and to the size of the particles. So, for the frequencies in clinical use, the size of the particles is essential. Micro bubbles and aggregates of red cells can be echogenic. Micro bubbles are scare. Echoes are mainly generated by blood cells aggregated from a given size for each wave length. For instance, 225 for 7.5 MHz frequency. High degree hematocrits and big molecules induce aggregation, but the main factor is the flow speed or more exactly the shear rate, i.e. 8/3 of speed/vessel radius. In clinical practice, blood becomes echogenic if flow slows and if the vessel radius increases. This happens for instance for venous or even arterial aneurysms, for dilated and dyskinetic cardiac cavities, an above all, in veins when flow slows. Echogenicity appears proximal to an organic or hemodynamic obstacle and is reversible when flow is restored. The technical conditions are important, too. Blood becomes more echogenic when the scan benears, the frequency increases and the resolution of the device goes higher. It can be expected that hemodynamic and even rheologic information will be obtainable in big vessels with computerized techniques quantifying blood echogenicity. Blood clots will be echogenic under the same conditions: red blood cells aggregated non hemolyzed. Their echogenicity appears more dependent of their structure than of the chronology. Better technical conditions will increase the clot echogenicity, too. Therapeutic and prognostic conclusions can be expected by better evaluation of prethrombotic stages and of structure of blood clots.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001769 Blood The body fluid that circulates in the vascular system (BLOOD VESSELS). Whole blood includes PLASMA and BLOOD CELLS.
D001777 Blood Coagulation The process of the interaction of BLOOD COAGULATION FACTORS that results in an insoluble FIBRIN clot. Blood Clotting,Coagulation, Blood,Blood Clottings,Clotting, Blood
D001809 Blood Viscosity The internal resistance of the BLOOD to shear forces. The in vitro measure of whole blood viscosity is of limited clinical utility because it bears little relationship to the actual viscosity within the circulation, but an increase in the viscosity of circulating blood can contribute to morbidity in patients suffering from disorders such as SICKLE CELL ANEMIA and POLYCYTHEMIA. Blood Viscosities,Viscosities, Blood,Viscosity, Blood
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013927 Thrombosis Formation and development of a thrombus or blood clot in BLOOD VESSELS. Atherothrombosis,Thrombus,Blood Clot,Blood Clots,Thromboses
D014463 Ultrasonography The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic pulses directed into the tissues. Use of ultrasound for imaging or diagnostic purposes employs frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 10 megahertz. Echography,Echotomography,Echotomography, Computer,Sonography, Medical,Tomography, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Ultrasonic Imaging,Ultrasonographic Imaging,Computer Echotomography,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasound,Ultrasonic Tomography,Ultrasound Imaging,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasounds,Imaging, Ultrasonic,Imaging, Ultrasonographic,Imaging, Ultrasound,Imagings, Ultrasonographic,Imagings, Ultrasound,Medical Sonography,Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonographic Imagings,Ultrasound, Diagnostic,Ultrasounds, Diagnostic

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