DI 3- Final Flashcards
AP supine abd xray: stomach, SI, colon, Spleen
Visualized?
Stomach: ? can see magenblase
Small intestines: if contrast present, or gas, which is abN
Colon: yes, hepato and splenic-flextures); no: ascending and descending are retroperitoneal
Spleen-yes (SM mb seen)
AP supine abd xray: liver, GB, KD, adrenals
Visualized?
Liver: yes, anterior to stomach
GB:if stones or porcelain GB, otherwise need contrast
KD: outlined by fat, retroperitoneal, left higher than right, need contrast??
Adrenals: if calcifications
AP supine abd xray: pancreas, psoas, ureter, UB, ovaries, uterus
Visualized?
Pancreas: only if calcifications, retroperitoneal except tail
Psoas muscle: if calcifications from TB (Pott’s Dz)
Ureter: only w contrast
urinary bladder: yes, outline, more if full of pee
ovaries: no
Uterus: only see leiomyoma, if present
Describe the location of gas and/or barium in the stomach in the recumbent versus upright positions (both AP)
- Upright: see fluid line bubble. Barium settles to bottom, gas rises top
- Recumbent: see through all at once!
Describe the appearance of gaseous distention of the small versus large intestine.
- Gas acts as contrast agent, to highlight lumen
- LI: gas is normal
- SI: gas is abn (mb obst if >3cm); “stacked coin” or “coiled spring” appearance of mucosal folds (more folds in SI) = obst
- Jejunum: feathery pattern (gas/obst)
- Ileum=: clumped pattern (gas/obst)
- Bubbles: Outside GI = abscess, necrosis; Inside GI = benign
- Gas IN bowel wall: bubbles = benign; streaks = sinister
What is a sentinel loop?
• Loops of small bowel distention= indicate inflam + halted peristalsis dt acute pancreatitis (MC, L upper), acute appendicitis (R lower), acute cholecystitis (R upper)
Posterior displacement of the magenblase (gastric air bubble) is suggestive of enlargement of which organ?
• Liver: anterior to stomach, pushes things back more if enlarged
What is the normal orientation and position of the kidneys?
- Retroperitoneal
- Visible dt perirenal fat layer surrounding kidneys
- Inferior pole more lateral; superior pole more medial
- Left: higher, T11-L2
- Right: lower, T12-L3
4 different types of abdominal calcification patterns:
concretions
conduit wall
cystic
solid mass
abd calcif: concretions
- form in lumen of a vessel or hollow viscus (pelvic veins, GB, urinary tract) usu dt obst, stasis, infx, debris
- aka stones, caliculi (-lith)
- usu rounded or oval, mb faceted
- mb homogeneously dense (urinary calculi), slight central lucency (phlebolith), or circumferential laminations
- MC: Phleboliths (pelvic veins), gallstones, staghorn calculi (kidney), bladder calculi, fecaliths, appendicolith
- “non-lith”: liver & spleen granulomas, pancreatic concretions , prostatic concretions
abd calcif: Conduit wall
- in walls of hollow tubes/arteries, in parallel tracks (but mb not continuous)
- MC: abdominal aorta, common & internal iliac, splenic, renal arteries
- parallel lines of normal spacing do NOT indicate aneurysm; usually dt atherosclerotic plaques (must ddx)
abd calcif: cystic
o in wall of abn fluid-filled mass (ie not normally present, or normally seen w x ray, GB, etc)
o smooth, curvilinear rim of opacity, but mb gap/incomplete
o abd aortic aneurysm (50-80%, usu scattered)
o porcelain GB
o splenic cyst (ddx splenic a aneurysm)
o other aneurysms (not all?)
o other mesenteric and omental cysts (mb congenital, trauma, inflam)
abd calcif: solid-mass
• irregular border & complex architecture (mottled density, radiolucencies inside, mb whorled pattern w incomplete bands and arcs)
• Ex: LNs, leiomyoma, malig, dermoid cyst, TB, chronic abscess, bowel adenoma, adrenal abN
o psammaomatous calcifi: cloud-like or sand-like appearance in cystadenocarcinoma of ovaries
• MC: mesenteric LNs, usu dt TB; mb infx, Mets
• MC in female pelvis: Uterine leiomyoma (fibroid)
• Dermoid cyst (teratoma, mc ovarian tumor): L: ovaries; R: cystic teratoma
• adrenal gland: close to lumbar spine, often BL. Often incidental finding, mb Addison’s dz, other adenoma
What is a phlebolith?
- “vein stone”
- Normal: calc pelvic veins, seen at pelvic brim (lateral)
- oval to round, well defined, mb more translucent center
- Midline: always abn, mb dt mass in pelvis displacing the veins
Is plain film the best modality for diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm? If not, what is/are the best choice(s)?
- US is best; 98% accurate
- CT also OK, esp if leak suspected
- X-ray shows 50-80% calcifications