[Ultrasound artifacts as differential diagnostic problems in ultrasound of the upper abdomen].

INTRODUCTION: The word artifact stands for any visible result of imaging procedures which is caused by the procedure itself and not the entity being analyzed. Recognition of artifacts in everyday work is of great significance for final diagnosis, since their wrong interpretation not only compromises the value of ultrasound finding, but may also lead to a wrong therapeutic approach. ULTRASOUND ARTIFACTS: Artifacts appear as the result of physical properties of an ultrasound beam, technical aspects of ultrasound apparatus and immobility in creation of ultrasound image. Artifacts in the form of acoustic shadows, acoustic enhancements and reverberation most commonly appear and lead to changed appearance of certain structures. That is why great experience and knowledge of radiologists-ultrasonographists is necessary, since diagnostic accuracy of the method itself is under their immediate control. Incorrect interpretation of artifacts and failure to recognize them reduces the value of ultrasound imaging which has, during the past 25 years, confirmed its exceptional diagnostic value.

[Diagnostic significance of ultrasonography in focal splenic lesions]. / Dijagnosticki znacaj ultrazvuka u fokalnim promenama slezine.

INTRODUCTION: The spleen is situated in the upper left abdominal cavity and spleen parenchyma has a homogenous appearance. For that reason changes in parenchymal echogenicity should be understood as pathological, since many splenic focal lesions appear as different changes in echostructure of spleen parenchyma. FOCAL SPLENICE LESIONS: Focal lesions are not rare and are found in every day work. Great advantages of ultrasound diagnostics in relation to other complementary methods put this method into the leading position in diagnostics, not only in spleen disorders, but the whole abdomen. Advantages include: diagnostic accuracy, possibility of repetition, low price of the examination, and no irradiation. SPLENIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY: Splenic ultrasonography is efficient and provides findings which represent a significant contribution in reaching the final diagnosis and selecting the appropriate therapeutic approach. Due to various ultrasonographic images of numerous splenic focal lesions (metastasis, hemangioma, cysts, infarction, hematoma etc) great knowledge and experience is required in order to come to accurate diagnosis. This will bring application of other diagnostic procedures, such as CT and MR, mostly available in large radiological institutes, to a minimum.