The sonographic and computed tomographic features in a case of replacement lipomatosis of the kidney are presented, along with pathologic correlation. Computed tomography demonstrated a staghorn calculus and marked atrophy of the renal parenchyma, along with diffuse increase in renal sinus and perirenal fat. Sonography showed thinning of the renal parenchyma and high-amplitude echoes throughout the kidney, corresponding to the increase in renal sinus fat. The prospective diagnosis of replacement lipomatosis, and differentiation from other causes of nonfunction of the kidney due to staghorn calculus, can be readily made.

Sonograms of six patients with adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder were reviewed and correlated with oral cholecystographic and pathologic findings. The gallbladder was visualized in four of the six patients by oral cholecystography, which also revealed intramural diverticula. Five of the six patients showed sonographic evidence of diffuse or segmental thickening of the gallbladder wall and intramural diverticula, seen as anechoic or echogenic foci within the wall. Intramural diverticula containing bile appeared as anechoic spaces; those containing biliary sludge or gallstones appeared as echogenic foci with or without acoustic shadows or reverberation artifacts. There was good correlation between sonographic and pathologic findings in three patients. The authors conclude that adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder should be suspected when (a) there is diffuse or segmental thickening of the gallbladder wall and (b) intramural diverticula are seen as anechoic or echogenic foci with or without associated acoustic shadows or reverberation artifacts.

The sonographic detection of echogenic, soft‐tissue mass within the veins of the lower extremities assures the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). However, the sonographic diagnosis remains inconclusive when fresh thrombus and/or artifacts are present within the lumen of the vein. The present study attempts to augment the clinical utility of real‐time sonography in the detection of DVT, based on the premise that total obliteration of the vein lumen by probe compression should not be possible in the presence of venous thrombi. Sonography and contrast venography of the lower extremity were performed in 20 patients with clinical suspicion of DVT. The presence of thrombi was confirmed in 14 patients. Probe compression failed to obliterate the lumen of the veins containing thrombi. The authors conclude that the technique of probe compression is useful for rapid and noninvasive detection of venous thrombi.

Portosystemic venous collaterals were studied with sonography in 40 patients with known portal hypertension. Eight patients had technically inadequate scans, while 32 had optimal scans. Sixty groups of venous collaterals were identified. At least one collateral pathway was seen in 28 patients, for a sensitivity of 88% for the 32 patients with optimal scans and 70% for the total group. The overall sensitivity for detection of coronary-gastroesophageal collaterals was 80% and 64%, respectively. The small size of the coronary-gastroesophageal varices in early portal hypertension seems to be the most important factor limiting detection in patients suitable for sonography.

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