Abdominal Radiology Flashcards
What are some indications for an abdominal radiograph that can be seen on a plain film?
- acute & chronic, diffuse or localized abdominal pain
- obstructive voiding symptoms
- renal caliculi
- search for foreign bodies
- looking for pneumoperitoneum or congenital abnormalities
What are some indications for an abdominal radiograph that can NOT be seen on a plain film?
- flank pain
- nausea & vomiting
- persistent vomiting in a newborn
- change in bowel habits
- postoperative pain, distention, fever
- evaluation of the position of medical devices
- organomegaly
- abdominal trauma
- jaundice
- tumor staging
- abdominal bloating, distention, increased girth
In an abdominal plain film…what is the order that you should look @ the bony structures in?
Lower Rib Cage Lumbar Spine Sacrum Pelvis Hip Joints
T/F It is normal for the spleen to sometimes not be seen at all.
True.
How large are the kidneys–in terms of vertebrae?
3 vertebrae
If the bladder is full–how will it appear on the film?
like soft tissue, with a density similar to that…
T/F It is abnormal to not see the uterus on a film of a female patient.
False. It is pretty normal to sometimes not see it when it is there…
T/F You must be able to see the prostate in a healthy patient.
No…you can usu only see it if it is calcified.
Where is it ok/normal to see calcifications in an abdominal film?
costal cartilage
aorta
iliac arteries
splenic artery
Where would it be pathological to see calcifications in an abdominal film?
aortic aneurysms liver gallbladder spleen renal prostate pancreas lymph nodes adrenal glands uterus, ovaries
