Diagnostic Imaging of Digestive Tract Flashcards
in what situations does serosal detail decreases (3)
- decreased fat (immaturity, emaciation)
- increased soft tissue opacity in/around mesentery (free fluids, peritonitis, carcinomatosis, severe mesenteric lymphadenopathy)
- large abdominal masses
what allows delineation of serosal margins of abdominal organs
mesenteric fat
what can increase serosal detail
pneumoperitoneum will increase clarity of serosal markings
around caudal margin of diaphragm
what would ddx be for increased serosal detail (3)
- recent surgery or abdominal penetration
- GIT perforation
- iatrogenic (ex. during pneumocystogram)
what is shown here
pneumoperitoneum
caudal margin of diaphragm
what is the normal appearance of the liver
even soft tissue opacity
triangular shape on lateral
what is the shape of the liver on lateral
triangular shape
sharp margin caudoventrally
extends to caudal aspect of costal arch
what is the gastric axis
used to assess the size of the liver
normal: parallel to ribs or perpindicular to spine
what is the appearance of the liver on VD
triangular, more to the right
tip is at the level of the costal arch
what are the signs of hepatomegaly
- caudal rotation of gastric axis
- liver extends caudally beyond costal arch
- rounding of caudal border
what is shown here
hepatomegaly
what is the ddx for hepatomegaly (4)
- hepatitis
- neoplasia
- cushings
- steroid use
what are the signs of microhepatica
- cranial rotation of gastric axis
- reduced size or herniation
what is shown here
microhepatica
what can be the ddx of microhepatica (2)
- portosystemic shunt (PSS)
- diaphragmatic rupture
identify the organs
red: stomach
pink: small intestine
orange: large intestine
can intestinal wall thickness be assessed on radiograph accurately
no
interfeace between gas the fluid –> wall is not actually thickened, it could be fluid that makes it look thickened
what is the appearance of the stomach on RLR
lying with right side down gas will collect in the fundus
left side of abdomen is highest
what is the appearance of the stomach on LLR
when dog is turned over the pylorus is the highest part of the stomach and gas will sit and give the stomach a dumbell appearance
what is shown here and what is the ddx
enlarged abnormal shape
GDV
what is the normal diameter of small intestine in canines
<1x height of lumbar vertabral body
what is the normal diameter of small intestine in felines
~<12mm
where are the small intestines located in the abdomen
generally ventral mid abdomen
what a small intestine obstruction appear on radiograph
single or few dilated or thickened loops
may be easier to see when gassy
foreign body may not be clearly seen
what is shown here
foreign body
what is ileus
general dilation of small intestine
what can cause ileus
- peritonitis
- GDV
- dysautonomia
how could you diagnose a small intestinal mass on rads (3)
may not be clear but
- diffuse mild thickening
- mass (obscured by other loops)
- evidence of obstruction
what is the gravel sign
collection of mineralized matieral immediately above partial GI obstruction
indicates chronic partial obstruction
must be persistent
what is shown here
gravel sign
partial pyloric outflow obstruction
where is the large intestine present
dorsal abdomen
what is the diameter of normal large intestine
<1.5x length of L7
what is shown here
large intestine
what is shown here
megacolon
dense radioopaque fecal material
twice length of L7