Why watch adrenal glands
The adrenal glands are small glands above the upper poles of the kidneys that produce hormones that affect blood pressure and metabolism. Their study is prescribed for persistent arterial hypertension that is difficult to treat, for hypertensive crises with palpitations and sweating, and for suspected hormonally active tumors. Ultrasound reveals space-occupying formations ranging in size from 1.5–2 cm, however, due to the deep location of the glands, visualization is not always complete - if there is reasonable suspicion, CT or MRI is prescribed. In this case, the kidneys are fully assessed: size, parenchyma thickness, stones, cysts, dilation of the pelvis.
Why ultrasound is the first line method
Ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation, is fast, inexpensive, and provides images in real time. Therefore, it begins with the diagnosis of most diseases of internal organs, thyroid and mammary glands, blood vessels, joints and soft tissues.
A separate advantage is the ability to evaluate not only structure, but also movement: blood flow in the vessels, heart contractions, peristalsis, and fetal movements. Neither CT nor MRI in standard mode show this.
Ultrasound modes
- B-mode - a conventional two-dimensional gray scale image of the organ structure
- Dopplerography - assessment of the speed and direction of blood flow in the vessels
- duplex scanning - a combination of vessel imaging and blood flow analysis
- 4D - volumetric image in real time
What influences the quality of research
Ultrasound does not pass through air and does not pass well through dense bone tissue. Therefore, gases in the intestines interfere with examination of the pancreas, and the lungs and brain of an adult are inaccessible for examination. This explains the preparation requirements: diet and fasting study significantly improve visualization.
The second important factor is the doctor: ultrasound diagnostics largely depends on the experience of the specialist, since the image is assessed at the time of the examination.