Snowflake Pattern Ultrasound
Snowstorm sign in obstetric imaging is classically seen in complete hydatiform mole. It is characterized by the presence of many hydropic villi which gives the ultrasonographic appearance of a central heterogeneous mass having a solid, hyperechoic. Molar Pregnancy.
"Snowstorm" pattern demonstrating multiple intrauterine echoes with no fetus seen on transvaginal ultrasonography in a patient with a molar pregnancy. Serum β-hCG was greater than 180,000 mIU/mL. (Photo contributor: Robin Marshall, MD.).
The snowstorm appearance in the thyroid gland on ultrasound is due to innumerable diffuse microcalcifications, most classically seen in the diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSVPTC). Similar patterns may be seen in metastatic or inflammatory thyroid disease. There are countless tiny, bright (hyperechoic) foci scattered through the parenchyma, resembling snowflakes.
It yields a snowflake-like pattern due to the cystic trophoblast tissue upon ultrasound. A complete hydatidiform mole is normally aborted and removed by dilation and curettage, commonly at or around 8. Snowflake sign is a lung consolidation accompanied by obvious air bronchogram sign that resembles a snow pattern on ultrasound imaging.
It is characterized by punctate patchy or line air bronchogram sign on ultrasound. Snowflake lung consolidation is considered to be the most specific ultrasound imaging feature of RDS. The term "snowflake", when used to describe a granulomatous cyst caused by Echinococcus, may refer specifically to the fine, echogenic particles within the cyst, known as hydatid sand, which create a speckled pattern resembling snowflakes on ultrasound [6].
When a pregnancy is more than 12 weeks and the fetus is intact, it is not difficult to diagnose a partial mole because the typical "snowflake" picture is seen in the placental area accompanying the fetus. Complete hydatidiform moles (CHM) are a type of molar pregnancy and fall at the benign end of the spectrum of gestational trophoblastic disease. Epidemiology A complete hydatidiform mole is the most common type of gestational trophoblastic dise.
Download scientific diagram Ultrasound image showing snowstorm pattern of complete hydatidiform mole with a viable co-existing fetus at 14 weeks 3 days. from publication: A case of viable fetus. An ultrasound revealed an intrauterine snowstorm pattern and bilateral complex ovarian masses (Figures 1 and 2).
A chest radiograph was normal. Surgical evacuation of the uterus yielded gross tissue resembling grape clusters. FIGURE 1 An ultrasound image of the uterus revealed the typical snowstorm pattern.