Lung Nodule
A lung nodule is a small, generally round area of increased density within the lung, typically measuring less than 3 centimeters across (anything larger is referred to as a lung mass). Lung nodules are very common findings on chest imaging. Large screening studies suggest that roughly half of adults age 50 and older have at […]
Glioma
A glioma is a tumor that arises from glial cells, the supportive cells that surround and nourish the neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor — that is, a tumor that originates in the brain rather than spreading from elsewhere — and they include several […]
Thyroid Nodule
A thyroid nodule is a localized growth or fluid-filled area within the thyroid gland, the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones regulating metabolism. Thyroid nodules are very common. Imaging studies suggest that nodules can be identified in roughly 50 to 60 percent of adults when ultrasound or MRI looks closely, […]
Aortic Aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal widening or bulging of part of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, which carries blood from the heart down through the chest and abdomen. Aneurysms most commonly form in the abdominal aorta (an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA) but can also develop in the thoracic aorta, which runs through […]
Horseshoe Kidney
A horseshoe kidney is a congenital condition in which the two kidneys are fused at their lower ends, forming a single U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped organ rather than two separate kidneys. It is one of the most common kidney variants, occurring in roughly 1 in 500 people, and it is typically present from birth. Most people […]
Proteinaceous Cyst
A proteinaceous cyst is a fluid-filled sac in which the internal fluid contains a higher concentration of protein than a typical “simple” cyst. On MRI, this elevated protein content changes the way the cyst appears, producing brighter signal on certain sequences. The term itself describes a characteristic of the fluid inside the cyst — not […]
Heterogeneous Prostate
A heterogeneous prostate is a descriptive imaging term used by radiologists when the prostate gland shows uneven or mixed signal patterns on MRI, rather than a uniform appearance. It is not a diagnosis. It simply describes what the tissue looks like on the scan. Many normal prostates are mildly heterogeneous, especially as men age, because […]
Ovarian Cyst
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac or pocket that forms on the surface of or inside an ovary. The ovaries are a pair of small, almond-shaped organs located on either side of the uterus that produce eggs and hormones. Most ovarian cysts develop as a normal part of the menstrual cycle and are called […]
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder in which clusters of fluid-filled sacs, called cysts, develop primarily within the kidneys. Unlike simple kidney cysts that are common and usually harmless, the cysts associated with PKD can grow quite large and multiply over time. As these cysts expand, they can cause the kidneys to enlarge […]
Kidney Cyst
A kidney cyst is a round, fluid-filled pouch that forms on or inside the kidneys. The most common type is called a “simple kidney cyst.” These simple cysts are generally harmless, non-cancerous, and do not interfere with the kidney’s ability to filter waste from the blood. The exact reason why they form is not entirely […]
