The “halo sign” is a radiological phenomenon that appears as a ring or cloud on medical imaging and can indicate inflammation, tumors, or fetal death. Doctors may recommend repeat imaging or biopsy for diagnosis and treatment options vary depending on the situation.
In medicine, several radiological phenomena are known as “halo sign”. These result in the appearance of a distinctive ring or cloud, which may be darker or lighter than the surrounding regions, depending on what’s causing it. In the skull, they can be signs of inflammation of blood vessels, while in the chest, they can indicate a malignant tumor or another problem such as a fluid buildup. Prenatal ultrasound examinations may also reveal a distinctive image known as a Deuel halo, which is indicative of fetal death.
A common application of the halo sign is in diagnosing temporal arteritis, an inflammation of blood vessels in the head. Inflamed vessels can develop visible halos that can help a doctor diagnose the condition without the use of a biopsy to confirm. Chest imaging may also involve a halo mark, ring spot, or dot on an image such as an X-ray. The halo sign indicates that something is blocking normal X-ray transmission, such as a malignant tumor or fluid buildup.
When halo marks are identified during diagnostic tests, your doctor may recommend several steps. These may include repeat imaging or using a different imaging method to confirm the result. The biopsy can provide more information about what is happening, which can be important for successful treatment. If other medical signs can lead to a diagnosis, your doctor might also go straight to treatment to fix the problem.
Prenatal ultrasound may reveal a halo sign in the fetus. This can take the form of a distinctive ring around the skull, caused by the swelling between the scalp and the skull. This is an indicator of fetal death, which can be confirmed with other measures, such as checking movement and heart rate. There are also other signs that may be visible on X-rays or ultrasounds, including the development of gas bubbles inside the fetus. Healthcare professionals follow very specific procedures when diagnosing stillbirth, to be absolutely certain before moving on to treatment recommendations.
The expectant mother has several treatment options in this case; you may wait for miscarriage or abortion, or you may have surgery to remove the fetus before an infection has a chance to develop. Surgery is generally recommended to protect the health and safety of the mother and may be necessary in some cases. Childbirth may be an option in some situations and can be discussed with health professionals if expectant mothers would prefer to work and give birth as naturally as possible.
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