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Diagnostic Imaging > Abdominal Radiology > Flashcards

Abdominal Radiology Flashcards

1
Q

what are normal guidelines for dog liver (3)

A

1) extends just caudally to the costal arch
2) comes to a point
3) >2 intercostal spaces

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2
Q

what are normal guidelines for a cat liver (2)

A

1) does not extend beyond costal arch
2) comes to a point

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3
Q

what is the normal orientation of the gastric axis… what does a cranial shift and a caudal shift tell you

A

normally roughly parallel with the ribs; cranial shift = microhepatia; caudal shift = hepatomegaly

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4
Q

where is the only attachment of the spleen

A

the gastrosplenic ligament that connects the dorsal extremity of the spleen to the stomach

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5
Q

where is the spleen located

A

left

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6
Q

the _______ extremity of the spleen is fixed whereas the _______ extremity of the spleen varies widely in the dog

A

dorsal; ventral

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7
Q

what part of the spleen do you usually not see on the lateral view in the cat

A

ventral extremity (unlike dogs where we can normally see this)

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8
Q

what are indicators of splenomegaly (3)

A

1) very obvious, large spleen
2) margins rounded
3) can occur secondary to GDV, so may see concurrent signs of GDV

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9
Q

what are signs of splenic torsion (3)

A

1) splenomegaly
2) displacement caudally and dorsally
3) may see emphysema

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10
Q

which kidney is more cranial

A

R more cranial than L (R is right on time, L lags behind…)

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11
Q

to properly assess the size of the kidneys, the patient should be in what orientation and why

A

VD; kidneys fall beside the spine so we can properly compare kidney size to vertebrae

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12
Q

what are the guidelines for kidney size in the dog

A

2.5-3.5x length of L2 on VD

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13
Q

what are the guidelines for the kidney in the cat (2)

A

2-3x length of L2 on VD; may see central fat opacity

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14
Q

how should the margins of the kidney appear

A

smooth and uniform

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15
Q

______ (nephroliths) occur in the renal ______, whereas ________________ occurs in the renal __________

A

calculi; pelvis; dystrophic mineralization; parenchyma

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16
Q

T/F you can differentiate calculi from dystrophic mineralization using RADs but not U/S

A

F; cannot differentiate with either of these imaging modalities

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17
Q

what are the normal guidelines for the ureters in the dog and cat

A

they track through fat in the retroperitoneal space; you will not see normal ureters unless performing an excretory urogram

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18
Q

when evaluating the ureters, what should you take caution of

A

the deep circumflex iliac a (to the adrenal gland) branches off the aorta at a 90 degree angle and can mimic a ureteral calculi

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19
Q

what are the guidelines for the bladder in the dog

A

1) size varies
2) pear-shaped to ellipsoid
3) cranial to brim of pelvis, but may be intra-pelvic when empty

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20
Q

what are the guidelines for the bladder in the cat

A

1) size varies
2) ellipsoid
3) always intra-abdominal, typically 2-3 cm cranial to pubis

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21
Q

what types of lower urinary calculi will not appear on radiographs and what is the exception

A

“Dont C U”

Dried solidified blood
Cystine
Urate

Exception: mixed composition stone containing calcium oxalate will be seen

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22
Q

what are the guidelines for the urethra (2)

A

1) will not see normally unless performing a urethrocystogram or vaginourethrocystogram
2) intra-pelvic always wider than intra-penile in males

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23
Q

how do urethral calculi appear on radiographs performed with contrast medium

A

as filling defects

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24
Q

what are the guidelines for the prostate

A

1) will not normally see
2) located in cranial portion of pelvic cavity

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25
Q

what are the guidelines for an abnormal prostate

A

1) enlarged
2) displaces bladder cranially and rectum dorsally
3) may see mineralization or gas

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26
Q

On evaluation of a radiograph of a male that was castrated at a young age, you notice a mass in the caudal-ventral abdomen, caudal to the bladder and cranial to the pelvis. The mass has mineralization. The bladder has been displaced cranially and the rectum displaced dorsally.

What is the diagnosis?

A

prostatic neoplasia

1) dog castrated at young age
2) enlarged prostate
3) mineralized prostate

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27
Q

at what stage of pregnancy do you notice fetal mineralization in the:

dog
cat

A

dog: 45 d
cat: 36 d

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28
Q

what are the guidelines for the normal uterus

A

typically not visible; if gravid, not evident until larger than the bowel

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29
Q

what are the guidelines for the normal ovaries

A

typically not visible, enlarged by neoplasia

30
Q

what are diagnostic indicators of a pyometra

A

1) soft tissue/fluid opacity that takes a tubular shape
2) bowel displaced cranially, dorsally and centrally
3) enlarged uterine body located between the colon and bladder

31
Q

how do we typically image the testes

A

using ultrasound, not radiographs

32
Q

what is the best approach to identify the parts of the GI tract

A

1) identify the stomach
2) identify the colon and cecum
3) all remaining tubular organs are small intestine

can perform a pneumocolonogram if needed to help improve visualization of the colon

33
Q

what is the typical location of the stomach

A

within the costal arch, but can vary

34
Q

if you suspect a GDV in a patient, what is the most important view to take and how would a GDV appear in this view

A

take RIGHT LATERAL; appears like Popeye’s arm/Smurf hat

35
Q

when assessing the stomach, it is important to correlate ________ with __________

A

opacity; history (ex. dog hasn’t eaten or drank in 2 days but the stomach contains fluid and soft tissue… abnormal)

36
Q

if you suspect a gastric outflow obstruction in the pyloric region of the stomach, what is the most important view to take

A

LEFT LATERAL

37
Q

when evaluating for FB, it is important to take how many views and why

A

take 3! redistributes gas and fluid to help visualize the FB

38
Q

what are normal SI guidelines in the dog

A

<1.6x the central height of L5

39
Q

what are normal SI guidelines in the cat

A

<2x the end plate height of L2

40
Q

what do normal intestines look like

A

smooth contours with focal narrowing of peristalsis and commonly gas opacity

41
Q

you should never rely on RADs to determine _____________, with the exception being

A

intestinal thickness; exception is when markedly thick and lumen is non-uniformly distended

42
Q

what is a good view to determine if there is a small intestinal FB

A

left lateral

43
Q

compare and contrast the cecum of the dog to the cecum of the cat (3 for each)

A

Dog: semicircular; compartmentalized; normally gas opacity

Cat: cone; non-compartmentalized; rarely gas opacity

44
Q

what are normal guidelines for the colon in the dog

A

< length of L7

45
Q

what are normal guidelines for the colon in the cat

A

< 1.3x length of L5; >1.5x indicates megacolon

46
Q

what abdominal organs can normally be seen on radiographs

A

1) liver +/- gallbladder
2) spleen
3) kidney
4) stomach
5) SI
6) cecum
7) LI
8) bladder

47
Q

what abdominal organs cannot normally be seen on radiographs

A

1) pancreas
2) uterus
3) ovaries
4) mesentery/omentum
5) lymph nodes
6) ureters
7) urethra
8) adrenal gland

48
Q

how many zones do we split the lateral view in the dog and cat into

A

5

49
Q

how many zones do we split the ventral view in the dog and cat into

A

4

50
Q

lateral zone 1 contains:

A
  • stomach
  • liver
  • dorsal spleen
  • adrenal glands
51
Q

lateral zone 2 contains

A
  • liver
  • gallbladder
  • descending duodenum
  • pancreas
  • ventral spleen
52
Q

lateral zone 3 contains

A
  • SI
  • cecum
  • colon
  • kidneys
  • adrenal glands
  • spleen
  • uterus
  • ovaries
  • mesentery
  • mesenteric LN
53
Q

lateral zone 4 contains

A
  • colon
  • lumbar LN (medial iliac LN)
54
Q

lateral zone 5 contains

A
  • bladder
  • prostate
  • uterus
55
Q

VD zone 1 contains

A
  • pancreas
  • liver +/- gallbladder
  • duodenum
  • R kidney
  • R adrenal
56
Q

VD zone 2 contains

A
  • stomach
  • liver
  • dorsal spleen
  • pancreas
  • L adrenal
57
Q

VD zone 3 contains

A
  • spleen
  • SI
  • LI
  • L kidney
  • cecum
  • R kidney
  • L adrenal
  • pancreas
  • uterus
  • ovaries
  • LNs
58
Q

VD zone 4 contains

A
  • bladder
  • prostate
  • uterus
  • medial iliac LN
59
Q

the opacity of abdominal masses may be (4):

A
  • soft tissue
  • gas
  • mineral
  • fluid
60
Q

what is serosal contrast

A

the ability to see serosal surfaces of abdominal viscera

61
Q

pneumoperitoneum (increases/decreases) serosal contrast whereas peritoneal effusion (increases/decreases) serosal contrast

A

increases; decreases

62
Q

what causes an artificial decrease in serosal contrast (3)

A

1) young animal
2) underexposed image
3) reduced fat

63
Q

thinner patients require (more/less) effusion to lose serosal detail

A

less

64
Q

what are 3 reasons why young animals have an artifactual decrease in serosal contrast

A

1) they tend to have a small amount of peritoneal effusion
2) more brown fat (soft tissue opacity)
3) reduced fat in general

65
Q

what are 3 indicators of peritoneal effusion

A

1) distended abdomen (sometimes)
2) loss of serosal contrast (ranges from moderate to complete)
3) gas still present in stomach/SI/colon but you can no longer see the walls

Fluid FALLS

66
Q

how would you distinguish moderate from marked peritoneal effusion

A

moderate: focal/partial loss of serosal contrast
severe: complete loss of serosal contrast

67
Q

what are the causes of pneumoperitoneum (4)

A

1) can occur post-operatively
2) rupture of a gas-filled abdominal organ
3) penetration of body wall
4) gas-producing bacteria present

68
Q

what are signs of pneumoperitoneum (3)

A

1) increased serosal contrast
2) gas penetrating the liver lobes
3) obvious stomach wall

Gas RISES

69
Q

what space makes up the retroperitoneum

A

the space ventral to the vertebrae and dorsal to the peritoneum that connects with the mediastinum and extends from the diaphragm to the perineum

70
Q

what structures are contained within the retroperitoneum (4)

A

1) kidneys
2) ureters
3) adrenal glands
4) medial iliac LN

71
Q

what are 4 things to look for to diagnose a retroperitoneal pathology

A

1) irregular structures OR you can see all other abdominal organs except kidneys
2) wispy pattern of fat and fluid in the retroperitoneal space
3) hammock hugging the kidneys
4) patterns of lines in the retroperitoneal space that silhouette with kidneys

Diagnostic Imaging (3 decks)

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