abdominal organ calcifications

Question 1

how do splenic calcifications form?

Answer 1

Ca++ in the spleen is usually granulomatous from TB, histoplasmosis

Question 2

how do splenic calcifications appear?

Answer 2

small, solid and scattered (punctuate)

Question 3

if cystic splenic calcifications occur, what is their density?

Answer 3

curvilinear density

Question 4

what is responsible for about 2/3 of splenic cysts?

Answer 4

echinococcal infestation (hyatid disease)

Question 5

80% of non-ecchinococcal acquired cysts are?

Answer 5

hemorrhage cysts

Question 6

what are the 3 types of splenic cystic calcifications?

Answer 6

echinococcal infestation
hemorrhage cyst
congenital cysts and other rare causes

Question 7

how do hepatic calcifications appear?

Answer 7

small, solid densities scattered throughout the liver, punctuate (stippled)

*rarely cystic or singular

Question 8

small hepatic calcifications are usually due to?

Answer 8

TB or histoplasmosis- granulomatous

Question 9

rarely, very small sand or poppy seed like densities are found with?

Answer 9

metastatic carcinoma

Question 10

hepatic cystic calcifications are rare, but when present its usually due to?

Answer 10

hyatid disease (echinococcus) 
-liver MC site

Question 11

what is calcified fecal matter in the colon called?

Answer 11

fecalith or coprolith

Question 12

what is the MC coprolith?

Answer 12

appendocolith

Question 13

appendocoliths are what size and located where?

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

what are appendocoliths associated with in over 1/2 of patients?

Answer 14

appendicitis

-may be seen with a lot of gas in acute appendicitis

Question 15

does the rate of appendix rupture increase of decrease with an appendocolith present?

Answer 15

increases

Question 16

cysts contain some sort of fluid and rarely calcify, but when they do, the wall is a ___________

Answer 16

smooth calcific curvilinear rim of density

*if there is internal calcification it is ill defined and less dense than periphery

Question 17

what are the 3 basic shapes of cystic calcifications?

Answer 17

rounded
ovoid
flattened

Question 18

what 2 types of cystic calcifications can be benign or malignant?

Answer 18

kidney and adrenal gland

Question 19

what are the 2 major types of cysts?

Answer 19

congenital and acquired

Question 20

which cyst type is a “true cyst” that is epithelial lined and less common?

Answer 20

congenital cyst

Question 21

which cyst type is a “pseudocyst” that is lined by fibrous tissue and more common?

Answer 21

acquired cyst

Question 22

is malignancy with abdominal calcifications rare or common?

Answer 22

RARE

Question 23

what is the most common malignancy seen with calcification?

Answer 23

ovarian serous adenocarcinomas and its metastases

*psammomatous bodies or psammoma

Question 24

what is the most common malignancy with calcification seen in children?

Answer 24

neuroblastoma- found around kidney and adrenal gland

Question 25

what is the most common calcification of the female reproductive tract?

Answer 25

uterine fibroma/ uterine leiomyoma
females 40-50 yo
non-calcified can occur in 20-30 yo

Question 26

what is a fibroma?

Answer 26

fibrotic mass in the uterine wall which often calcifys

Question 27

what is the appearance of uterine fibromas?

Answer 27

singular or multiple; mottled, speckled, whorled or irregular calcific densities that are rounded or oval “popcorn ball”

Question 28

where are most uterine fibromas located?

Answer 28

within the pelvic inlet above the usual site of the bladder

Question 29

uterine fibromas are usually asymptomatic, but when symptoms are present, what is most common?

Answer 29

acyclic bleeding
abdominal pain and infertility
pressure symptoms

Question 30

what is the most common ovarian calcific mass?

Answer 30

ovarian cystic teratoma (dermoid cyst)

Question 31

dermoid cysts are usually asymptomatic but may present with?

Answer 31

abdominal pain, abnormal bleeding

-teeth with dense enamel and bone are often seen

Question 32

prostatic calcifications occur in what population?

Answer 32

males over 40

Question 33

how do prostatic calcifications appear?

Answer 33

multiple small, punctuate calcifications; can be solid

Question 34

where are prostatic calcifications found?

Answer 34

partially or completely superimposed on the pubis symphysis

Question 35

what is the probable cause of prostatic calcifications?

Answer 35

chronic prostatitis or infection

Question 36

are prostatic calcifications usually symptomatic or asymptomatic?

Answer 36

usually asymptomatic, occasionally cause inflammation

Question 37

what are foreign bodies?

Answer 37

objects that have made their way inside a human, can’t be removed or avoided like artifacts

Question 38

how do tampons appear on x-ray?

Answer 38

appear as a well outlined column of air that is vertical

-saturated tampon you may not see