abdominal organ calcifications Flashcards
how do splenic calcifications form?
Ca++ in the spleen is usually granulomatous from TB, histoplasmosis
how do splenic calcifications appear?
small, solid and scattered (punctuate)
if cystic splenic calcifications occur, what is their density?
curvilinear density
what is responsible for about 2/3 of splenic cysts?
echinococcal infestation (hyatid disease)
80% of non-ecchinococcal acquired cysts are?
hemorrhage cysts
what are the 3 types of splenic cystic calcifications?
echinococcal infestation
hemorrhage cyst
congenital cysts and other rare causes
how do hepatic calcifications appear?
small, solid densities scattered throughout the liver, punctuate (stippled)
*rarely cystic or singular
small hepatic calcifications are usually due to?
TB or histoplasmosis- granulomatous
rarely, very small sand or poppy seed like densities are found with?
metastatic carcinoma
hepatic cystic calcifications are rare, but when present its usually due to?
hyatid disease (echinococcus) -liver MC site
what is calcified fecal matter in the colon called?
fecalith or coprolith
what is the MC coprolith?
appendocolith
appendocoliths are what size and located where?
- usually small but can be as big as 4cm
- located in the RLQ, superimposed over the ilium and anterior to the spine in the pelvis
what are appendocoliths associated with in over 1/2 of patients?
appendicitis
-may be seen with a lot of gas in acute appendicitis
does the rate of appendix rupture increase of decrease with an appendocolith present?
increases
cysts contain some sort of fluid and rarely calcify, but when they do, the wall is a ___________
smooth calcific curvilinear rim of density
*if there is internal calcification it is ill defined and less dense than periphery
what are the 3 basic shapes of cystic calcifications?
rounded
ovoid
flattened
what 2 types of cystic calcifications can be benign or malignant?
kidney and adrenal gland
what are the 2 major types of cysts?
congenital and acquired
which cyst type is a “true cyst” that is epithelial lined and less common?
congenital cyst
which cyst type is a “pseudocyst” that is lined by fibrous tissue and more common?
acquired cyst
is malignancy with abdominal calcifications rare or common?
RARE
what is the most common malignancy seen with calcification?
ovarian serous adenocarcinomas and its metastases
*psammomatous bodies or psammoma
what is the most common malignancy with calcification seen in children?
neuroblastoma- found around kidney and adrenal gland
what is the most common calcification of the female reproductive tract?
uterine fibroma/ uterine leiomyoma
females 40-50 yo
non-calcified can occur in 20-30 yo
what is a fibroma?
fibrotic mass in the uterine wall which often calcifys
what is the appearance of uterine fibromas?
singular or multiple; mottled, speckled, whorled or irregular calcific densities that are rounded or oval “popcorn ball”
where are most uterine fibromas located?
within the pelvic inlet above the usual site of the bladder
uterine fibromas are usually asymptomatic, but when symptoms are present, what is most common?
acyclic bleeding
abdominal pain and infertility
pressure symptoms
what is the most common ovarian calcific mass?
ovarian cystic teratoma (dermoid cyst)
dermoid cysts are usually asymptomatic but may present with?
abdominal pain, abnormal bleeding
-teeth with dense enamel and bone are often seen
prostatic calcifications occur in what population?
males over 40
how do prostatic calcifications appear?
multiple small, punctuate calcifications; can be solid
where are prostatic calcifications found?
partially or completely superimposed on the pubis symphysis
what is the probable cause of prostatic calcifications?
chronic prostatitis or infection
are prostatic calcifications usually symptomatic or asymptomatic?
usually asymptomatic, occasionally cause inflammation
what are foreign bodies?
objects that have made their way inside a human, can’t be removed or avoided like artifacts
how do tampons appear on x-ray?
appear as a well outlined column of air that is vertical
-saturated tampon you may not see
