An ultrasound report is a structured clinical document prepared by the sonographer or radiologist who performed your scan. At Sonoworld, all reports are prepared by consultant sonographers and follow a standard structure:
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Echogenic / hyperechoic | Brighter than the surrounding tissue on ultrasound. Gallstones, calcifications, and fatty tissue are typically echogenic. |
| Hypoechoic | Darker than the surrounding tissue. Many solid masses (including some tumours) appear hypoechoic. |
| Anechoic | No internal echoes — appears completely black on ultrasound. Simple fluid-filled cysts are anechoic. |
| Heterogeneous | Mixed echogenicity — the tissue has areas of different brightness. Can indicate complex pathology. |
| Homogeneous | Uniform echogenicity throughout — generally a reassuring feature. |
| Vascularity | Blood flow within a lesion, detected by Doppler. Increased vascularity in a mass can be a feature of malignancy. |
| Acoustic shadowing | A dark shadow behind a structure, caused by sound waves being blocked. Classic feature of gallstones and kidney stones. |
| Posterior enhancement | Increased brightness behind a structure. Classic feature of a simple cyst (fluid transmits sound well). |
| Hydronephrosis | Swelling of the kidney due to a blockage to urine outflow. |
| Splenomegaly | Enlarged spleen (normal adult spleen is less than 12cm in length). |
| Hepatomegaly | Enlarged liver. |
| Steatosis | Fatty infiltration of the liver — the ultrasound appearance of fatty liver disease. |
A normal report will describe each organ as being of normal size, shape, and echogenicity, with no focal lesions, masses, or abnormalities identified. The impression will typically state "no significant abnormality detected" or similar. A normal report is genuinely reassuring — it means the structures examined are within normal limits on the day of the scan.
An abnormal finding does not necessarily mean something serious. Many findings — such as simple liver cysts, small gallbladder polyps, or mildly enlarged lymph nodes — are common, benign, and require no treatment. Your report will include a recommendation for each finding.
If your report recommends urgent follow-up or referral, act on this promptly. If you are unsure what your report means, call Sonoworld on 020 7486 1991 — your sonographer is happy to explain the findings.
The most common source of anxiety after a scan is a report that mentions an incidental finding — something seen that was not the reason for the scan. A classic example is a simple liver cyst found during an abdominal scan for gallstones. Simple liver cysts are present in approximately 5% of the population, are almost always benign, and require no treatment. At Sonoworld, we explain incidental findings verbally at the end of every scan so patients leave understanding what was found and what, if anything, needs to happen next.
Yes. Your report is a valid clinical document that your GP can act on. Many GPs welcome private imaging reports as they reduce the need for NHS diagnostic appointments.
Call us on 020 7486 1991. Your consultant sonographer will explain the findings in plain language.
Your written report is emailed within 24 hours of your appointment. You also receive an instant verbal summary at the end of the scan.
Sonoworld is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our sonographers are registered with HCPC and are members of BMUS. All scans are performed at our Marylebone clinic: 29 Weymouth Street, London W1G 7DB.
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