The ultrasonographic (US) appearance of hydatid liver disease is well established, but solid cysts have long defied US characterization. We present 23 solid cysts and describe a new feature called the "Congealed waterlilly" sign. As the physical characteristics of the hydatid fluid change from watery to a viscid gel, it becomes echogenic. The intact folds of the germinal layer trapped within the viscid matrix give rise to the appearance of curvilinear structures which no longer move with changing patient posture. Similar findings have been observed in eight medically treated patients. We observed progression from an initial simple cyst to a "floating waterlilly" through to a "congealed waterlilly" in treated patients. The final appearance was indistinguishable from the untreated solid cysts. The congealed waterlilly sign is reliable and strongly suggestive of hydatid cysts.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of Neu-Laxova syndrome.

We report the sonographic diagnosis of Neu-Laxova syndrome in a fetus at 27 weeks' menstrual age. The parents were first cousins. Sonography revealed microcephaly, a sloping forehead, exophthalmos, a small thorax and abdomen, hypoplastic lungs, syndactyly, hyperextended knees, polyhydramnios, a small placenta, and intrauterine growth restriction. The long bones were normal. The calvaria was hyperechoic and associated with shadowing, obscuring any intracranial abnormalities. This sonographic finding was presumed to represent calvarial calcification, not previously described with this syndrome. We believe that Neu-Laxova syndrome can be reliably diagnosed prenatally by demonstrating the sonographic features described, although other conditions with similar sonographic features need to be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗