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Sonographic appearance of fecal masses.
Author(s) -
Derchi L E,
Musante F,
Biggi E,
Cicio G R,
Oliva L
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.1985.4.11.573
Subject(s) - medicine , fecal impaction , echogenicity , acoustic shadow , rectal examination , radiology , differential diagnosis , radiography , physical examination , ultrasound , surgery , pathology , constipation , prostate cancer , cancer
Fecal impaction, caused by incomplete evacuation of feces over an extended length of time, may lead to the formation of a fecaloma, a large, firm mass of stool. Sonography is commonly used as the first imaging procedure in patients presenting with abdominal masses. In the five cases cited, fecaloma was suspected by sonography in four cases; confirmation was obtained by rectal examination in three cases and by radiographic studies in two cases. A representative case report is presented of a 74‐year‐old woman who had a large pelvic mass detected on physical examination. Sonographically, the fecaloma had a highly echogenic surface and a posterior acoustic shadow. Radiographic examination showed a "soap bubble" appearance, suggestive of stool. Thus, fecaloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with highly reflective and shadowing abdominal and/or pelvic masses.