How does the trans grayscale image differ in appearance from the normal comparison?
Our ultrasound image visualized the entire abdominal cavity from the anterior abdominal wall to the vertebral column (~16cm deep). It demonstrates a large solid intrabdominal mass. The normal comparison barely covers just 6 cm deep from the transducer. This is because normal bowel usually contains gas which reflects the sound waves emerging from our ultrasound transducer. This prevents anything behind normal bowel from being imaged accurately.
How does this patient's left kidney differ in appearance from the normal comparison?
It is being pushed laterally (i.e. closer to the transducer) by an extrinsic non-renal mass.
What the major findings?
Large solid intraabdominal mass that causes mass effect on the left kidney without arising from it.
Large heterogeneous, solid intra-abdominal mass. It appears to arise from the left retroperitoneum and causes substantial mass effect on the left kidney without appearing to arise from the left renal parenchyma.