Basic imaging of urological systems Flashcards
What does radiolucent mean?
dark patches
What does radioopaque mean?
light patches
What is contrast radiography?
increasing the contrast between the subject and the surrounding tissue
what is positive contrast?
contrast agents contain elements that absorb a large proportion of x-rays, so appear whiter on radiographs
What are some examples of positive contrast substances?
Barium and iodine
What is negative contrast?
low density substances which don’t absorb many x-rays – so appear darker on radiographs.
What is collimation?
focusing a beam to only image what you want to see
In what animal are kidneys most visible in?
cats
What makes kidneys visible?
They are surrounded by fat which gives them better contrast
What view are kidneys best seen in?
Ventrodorsal view
What are calculi?
Bladder stones
What are Hypoechoic tissues?
Dark tissues when viewed with an ultrasound
What are Hyperechoic tissues?
Bright tissues, they return more echoes
What are Anechoic tissues?
Tissues that appear Black under ultrasound
What colour should urine be under ultrasonography?
Anechoic
What is the best recumbancy to view the kidneys?
right recumbancy
Why is it better for kidneys to be surrounded by fat?
higher contrast so more visibility
What part of the urogenital system can you see with positive contrast radiography?
The ureters (better for assessing renal function)
When is the bladder easiest to evaluate?
When its full
What is lateraly recumbancy the best for?
It has the least superimposition
Where would you collimate?
11th rib, pelvis
Why are ureters not usually visible on plain radiographs?
They need to be surrounded by fat
