Abdominal Examination Flashcards
What abdo-related problem is confusion a feature of?
End-stage liver disease (hepatic encepalopathy)
What might abdominal distension suggest?
Ascites
Underlying bowel obstruction
Organomegaly
What abdo problem is cachexia associated with?
Malignancy
Advanced liver failure
What is koilonychia?
Spoon-shaped nails associated with iron deficiency anaemia
What is Leukonychia?
Whitening of the nail bed associated with hypoalbuminaemia
What abdo conditions are finger clubbing associated with?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Coeliac disease
Liver cirrhosis
Lymphoma of the GI tract
What abdo conditions can cause asterixis?
Hepatic encephalopathy
Uraemia secondary to Renal failure
What might bruising on the arms suggest for an abdo exam?
Underlying clotting abnormalities secondary to liver disease (e.g. cirrhosis)
What might excoriations suggest for an abdo exam?
Underlying cholestasis
What might we look for in the Axillae for an abdo exam?
Acanthosis Nigricans
Hair Loss
What are the three causes of Acanthosis Nigricans?
Benign
Associated with insulin resistance (T2DM)
GI malignancy (stomach cancer)
What can loss of axillary hair be associated with?
Iron-deficiency anaemia
Malnutrition
What is anterior uveitis associated with?
Inflammatory bowel disease
What is glossitis associated with?
Iron, B12 and folate deficiency
e.g. malabsorption secondary to IBD
What can hyperpigmented macules be suggestive of?
Pathognomonic for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome which results in development of polyps in the GI tract
What is spider naevi associated with?
Can be normal finding in pregnancy or women taking COCP
But if 5 or more present, more likely to be associated with pathology such as liver cirrhosis
What is caput medusae suggestive of?
Portal hypertension (e.g. liver cirrhosis)
What is striae suggestive of?
Ascites Intrabdominal malignancy Cushing's syndrome Obesity Pregnancy
What are some of the causes of hepatomegaly?
Hepatitis Hepatocellular carcinoma Haemochromatosis Myeloma PBC
What are some of the causes of splenomegaly?
Portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis
Haemolytic anaemia
Congestive heart failure
Glandular fever
What is the cause of bilaterally enlarged ballotable kidneys?
Polycystic kidney disease
Amyloidosis
What is the cause of unilaterally enlarged ballotable kidney?
Renal tumour
What is the cause of Aortic Bruits?
AAA
What is the cause of renal bruits?
Renal Artery Stenosis
What is an abdo cause of pitting oedema?
Hypoalbuminaemia secondary to liver cirrhosis or protein-losing enteropathy
