Snow storm pattern

A grainy, speckled, or heterogeneous visual texture on medical imaging producing a granular “snowstorm” appearance, caused by diffuse echogenic, radiodense, or particulate abnormalities depending on the imaging modality.

Causes

• Ultrasound findings

  • Hydatidiform mole

  • Silicone breast implant rupture

  • Gout

  • Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease)

  • Echinococcal cyst

• Chest imaging findings

  • Fat embolism syndrome

  • Miliary tuberculosis

  • Metastatic cancer

• Other causes

  • Imaging artifacts

  • Diffuse tissue degeneration or calcification processes