Abdomen part 1 Flashcards
what technique do we use when taking abdominal radiographs?
low kVp technique
at expiration
grid if patient >10cm thick
what does visualization of the margins of the abdominal structures require?
contrasting opacity (usually fat) interposed between the soft tissue opacity organs
what is decreased abdominal serosal detail caused by?
soft tissue opacity between organs: fluid
decreased fat between organs
optical illusion because of giant mass
in whom might you see decreased serosal detail?
abdominal effusion
young patient
thin patient
giant mass
what is increased serosal margin detail due to?
free abdominal gas interposed between soft tissue organs
usually GI perforation
how do we find small volumes of free gas in a small animal?
horizontal beam DV or VD with the animal in left lateral recumbency
want gastric fundus out of the way
look just caudal to diaphragm at highest point in abdomen
what does an abdomen with free gas and fluid look like?
some serosal details seen very well and others not at all
what bacteria are known to produce gas?
Clostridium
E. coli
Klebsiella
what are some retroperitoneal abnormalities?
mass effect causes ventral displacement of colon:
lymphadenopathy
retroperitoneal fluid
what is the gastric axis?
when we draw a line between the fundus and pyloris of the stomach
perpendicular to spine and parallel to ribs
what are some liver abnormalities we can see on a radiograph?
hepatomegaly
pedunculated liver mass
microhepatia
emphysematous cholecystitis
liver abscess
the head of the spleen is in the _________________ abdomen attached to the ____________
left dorsal
stomach
when can you see a normal cat spleen in radiographs?
VD view, not lateral
what happens in a splenic torsion?
spleen is rotated around its pedicle
is a DV view for abdomen helpful? why?
no
caudal abdominal structures not visible
what should you look at/for when looking at an abdominal radiograph?
extra-abdominal structures
abdominal contrast
retroperitoneum
liver
spleen
urinary tract
gastrointestinal tract
girl or boy parts
what are some extra-abdominal structures?
mammary carcinoma
body wall hernia
prepubic tendon rupture
why do young patients have decreased serosal detail?
tiny amount effusion
more brown fat (closer to soft tissue opacity)
what does focal effusion look like?
decreased serosal detail in one region
ruptured urinary bladder
what does mild effusion look like?
wispy appearance
how can you find small volumes of free gas?
horizontal beam DV or VD with animal in left lateral recumbency
want gastric fundus with normal gas out of the way
what does a radiograph with free gas and fluid look like?
decreased serosal detail in some spots and increased in others
gas filled GI shows up beautifully
fluid filled intestine not seen
what can cause gas where it is not normally?
penetrating wound
abnormal communication with structure that normally contains gas
gas forming organisms
what are choleliths?
stones in common bile duct
what does vitamin D toxicity cause with the stomach?
causes dog to mineralize the stomach
where does the liver normally live?
between the diaphragm and the stomach
what is the angle of the gastric axiss?
between perpendicular to spine and parallel to ribs
what can the gall bladder do that is normal?
protrude ventrally
what is the tail of the spleen like?
mobile
usually seen in ventral abdomen caudal to the pylorus on the lateral view in a dog
not normally seen on lateral view in a cat
what might you see on radiographs of a splenic torsion?
may be drawn into C shape
if occurred more than 1-2 days ago, may just see generalized splenic enlargement and effusion
