Correlation of the echogenicity and structure of clotted blood.

: The echogenicity of clotting human blood in sterile plastic bags was studied for up to 21 days and correlated with the histology of the clots. As observed with a 6-MHz A-scanner and a 5-MHz real-time gray-scale scanner, fresh blood and fresh clots were rich in internal echoes. The blood clot gradually became anechoic as a result of erythrocyte packing, hemolysis, and formation of fibrin thrombus, except for the irregular upper border, which also remained histologically inhomogeneous. This study shows that the echogenicity of a hematoma or clot is dependent on its histology; namely, on the distribution and integrity of cells within the clot.