Calcification of Soft tissues Flashcards
Soft tissues calcification/mineralisation is a relatively common phenomenon identified on conventional radiography with approximately 70-90% found in the _____ region.
Neck
What are the 8 Soft tissues calcification in the neck?
- Carotid artery
- Triticeous cartilage
- Thyroid and tracheal cartilage
- Nuchal ligament aka nuchal ligament ossicles
- Tonsils
- Stylohyoid ligament
- Salivary glands (sialolithiasis or salivary gland stones)
- Lymph node
What are the 4 thoracic calcifications?
- Tracheal/bronchi calcifications
- Costochondral cartilages calcifications
- Intrathoracic lymph nodes calcifications
- Aortic Arch Atherosclerosis
• Renal, Ureteric and Bladder Stones • Gallstones and Porcelain Gallbladder • Abdominal Lymph nodes Calcifications • Splenic & Hepatic Calcifications • Adrenal glands calcifications • Intra-abdominal Vascular Calcifications • Pelvic Phleboliths • Fecoliths and Appendicoliths • Vas Deference & Seminal Vesicle Vesicals Calcifications • Prostatic Calcifications • Scrotal Calcifications (These are part of what types of Soft tissue calcification?)
Intra-abdominal and pelvic soft tissues calcifications
_____ ______ Atherosclerosis is due to calcified atheromatous plaques.
Carotid Arteries Atherosclerosis
Carotid Arteries Atherosclerosis abnormality is best identified on _____ views.
AP Lower Cervical
Carotid Arteries Atherosclerosis is Similar to other atheromatous vascular calcification this is typically detected in _____ patients.
middle-age or elderly
Calcified Triticeous Cartilage: The triticeous cartilages are tiny bilateral ovoid structures that are located below the _____ bone in the lateral thyrohyoid ligaments.
Hyoid
Calcified Triticeous Cartilage can be seen at approximately the level of _____ and visualized best on ______ views.
C3-C4; lateral cervical views
Triticeous cartilages is located between the fibres of _____ ______ ligaments
lateral thyrohyoid
Thyroid and Laryngeal Cartilages calcification, Tracheal cartilage. Focal nuchal ligament heterotopic ossification aka sesamoid ossicles of nuchal ligaments. These are _____-related physiological calcifications in the neck.
Age-related
Calcification of the palatine tonsil (tonsillolith) is due to previous _____ and ______.
previous infection and inflammation
- Submandibular gland is the most common location of stones in the salivary gland (80%) known as _____.
- Salivary stone disease is a common cause of acute and chronic _____ _____ infections
sialolithiasis; salivary gland
-Cervical lymph nodes calcification are usually ______ and are due to infection/inflammation. -Concretion type pattern of calcifications helps to differentiate it from _____ calcification
dystrophic; vascular
Cervical lymph nodes are best seen in which view?
AP Lower Cervical
(T/F) Trachea and Bronchi cartilage calcification. No clinical significance and typically age-related.
True
_____ _____ calcification of the 1st Ribs
Costochondral cartilage
Costochondral cartilage typically uses what view?
PA Chest view
Costochondral cartilage is slightly more common in males or females?
Females
______ calcification of mediastinal lymph nodes are typically related to previous exposure to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Histoplasmosis or other infections.
“egg-shell”
Occasionally certain types of pneumoconiosis (especially silicosis) due to ______ inhalation may be considered.
industrial dust
Classic C-shaped pathological mitral valve calcifications over the left ventricle and Aortic arch calcifications related to ______.
atherosclerosis
Calcification of the pleura, seen abutting both domes of the diaphragm and the lateral chest wall and are abnormal, may be related to _____, _____ or other pathology
asbestos inhalation, tuberculosis
_____(cholelithiasis) may be frequently associated with attacks of acute or chronic cholecystitis
Gall stones
(T/F): Gall stones (cholelithiasis) can be an incidental finding in the asymptomatic individuals.
True
(T/F): Some gall stones may be translucent and not detected on conventional x-rays..
True
Generally two types of gall stones
are recognized, _____ (less radiodense) and _____ _____(more radioopaque)
pigment; cholesterol stones
Calcification of _____ lymph nodes may follow previous infection/inflammation such as gastroenteritis, fungal or TB exposure.
mesenteric
Calcification of mesenteric lymph nodes are (common/ uncommon) and often detected incidentally.
Common
Calcification of mesenteric lymph nodes occasionally may be a result of _____ or _____ and should be investigated by abdominal CT scanning
malignant neoplasms or metastasis
Adrenal glands calcification is best seen in which view?
AP abdomen view
Adrenal glands calcification can be ______ and not commonly noted.
Asymptomatic
Adrenal calcification may follow _____ _____ _____ or _____ _____ especially with mycobacterium tuberculosis
birth delivery trauma; previous infections
Abdominal aortic calcification due to atheromatous plaques is another common radiographic finding especially in the _____ and _____ patients and should be carefully evaluated for _____.
middle-age and elderly; abdominal aortic aneurysm
What is the normal diameter of abdominal aorta?
Aout 2 cm
Abdominal aorta should not exceed _____ cm as an upper limit of normal.
2.8-3 cm
Splenic artery calcification due to atheromatous plaques can be seen as _____ _____ calcification in the _____ _____ abdominal quadrant.
tortuous arterial; left upper
If Splenic artery calcification is detected should be evaluated for _____ _____ _____.
splenic artery aneurysm
Which aneurysm is
Rare overall but considered 2nd most common abdominal aneurysm?
Splenic Artery aneurysm
Which aneurysm is considered number 1 common abdominal aneurysm?
Aorto-iliac aneurysm
What is the Female to Male ratio on likelihood of getting splenic artery aneurysm?
F:M 2:1 (Females are twice likely)
Most patients that have splenic artery aneurysm are in their _____ decade of life or older
6th
What is the cause of splenic artery aneurysm?
Hypertension atherosclerosis
Splenic artery aneurysm are often discovered _____ during radiography, CT and US.
Incidentally (unintentionally)
Can the size vary for splenic artery aneurysm? What is the range?
Yes; 20-30 mm to 40+ mm.
At which point referral to a vascular surgeon may be necessary for splenic artery aneurysm.
If splenic artery aneurysm is greater than 30 mm
Calcified splenic pseudocyst aka _____ (__% of all splenic cysts)
secondary cyst (80% of all splenic cysts)
Calcified splenic pseudocyst is usually related to _____ _____ ______.
past splenic trauma
Can Calcified splenic pseudocyst be from inflammation or infarction?
Yes
If splenic artery aneurysm is considered, _____ scanning with _____ contrast may help
CT; IV
Does Splenic pseudocyst typically require treatment?
No
What is nephrolithiasis?
Renal stone
Renal stone (nephrolithiasis) are mostly radiopaque and well-visualised on _____ and _____.
conventional radiography (X-ray) and CT scanning
If Renal stone (nephrolithiasis) is found in the _____ or _____ junction may be symptomatic and can lead to obstruction and _____.
ureter; ureteropelvic; hydronephrosis
Renal stone (nephrolithiasis) Should be evaluated by _____ scanning and/or diagnostic _____.
CT; ultrasound
Large renal stones are also known as _____ _____.
Staghorn calculi
An appendicolith (fecoliths) especially in children has a higher association with acute _____.
appendicitis
Urinary stasis leads to _____ formation.
urinary stone
- _____ _____ _____ is a common cause in older males for urinary bladder stone.
- _____ abnormalities may also increase chances
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Congenital
Prostate gland calcification/calculi is more common in _____ or _____ patients.
middle-age or elderly patients
Scrotal calculi which are also known as a _____ or _____.
Fibrinoid Loose Bodies or Scrotal Pearl
Scrotal calculi is calcification within the scrotum, associated with repetitive _____.
Trauma (Ex. mountain bikers)
Calcified uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are often described radiographically as characteristic _____ type calcification.
mulberry
Is treatment required for Calcified uterine leiomyomas?
No, unless symptoms are present.
Benign ovarian germ cell tumour containing all embryonic elements can cause what growth within the pelvic region? Is surgical care needed?
Teeth, hair and fat; Yes
Characteristic “rice-grain” (Knee X-ray) calcifications in muscles are typical of parasitic infection with _____ _____ leading to _____ infection
Taenea Solium (pork tapeworm); Cysticercosis (larval)
Heterotopic bone formation aka?
Myositis Ossificans
Heterotopic bone formation (Myositis Ossificans)-Typically follows trauma and hematoma formation with subsequent _____.
Ossification
Traumatized then healed with ossification
