Diagnostics Flashcards
Purpose of the sinus Xrays?
3
- Detect sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses)- conform fluid in the sinuses
- Detect fluid in the sinuses
- Detect polyps
Indications for XRAY of the sinuses? 2
- Pain and pressure in the face, especially when lowering head 2. When clinical symptoms need supportive evidence to make the diagnosis
What is a Waters View, Waters Projection radiograph?
A posterioranterior radiographic view of the skull made with the orbitomeatal line at an angle of 37° from the plane of the film, to show the orbits and maxillary sinuses.
- What is a maxillary sinus radiograph?
- Why do we use it?
- a radiographic frontal view of the maxillary sinuses, orbits, nasal structures and zygomas;
- permits direct comparison of the sides.
What is the steeple sign for?
Croup
- What is the best test for a retropharyngeal abscess?
- What can it also be seen on?
Retropharyngeal abscess can be seen on xray but the imaging test of choice is a CT scan of the neck
Advantages of CT scan?
3
When is it preferable to MRI?3
1.
- Good for bone involvement, better than X-ray
- Sensitive to bone destruction (Trauma, infection)
- Sensitive to inflammatory changes (Retropharyngeal abscess, Ludwig’s angina)
2. Preferable to MRI for scanning the - larynx for neck nodes,
- tumor volume,
- cartilage sclerosis and destruction
What does this CT show?
- Coronal CT scan of the sinuses showing bilateral maxillary sinusitis.
- The opacification is more prominent on the left side.
What does this CT show?
3
- Coronal CT scan showing right maxillary sinus opacification.
- There is septal deviation to the right
- Notice the hypertrophy of the left inferior turbinate.
CT of the sinuses is useful for what?
5
- Give further info about certain tumors of the nasal cavity and sinuses
- Can provide important information about sinus and nasal obstruction
- Able to detect sinuses that are filled with fluid
- Can detect if sinus membranes are thickened
- Assist with dx of sinusitis
•
What are the arrows pointing to?
Arrows are pointing to abscess (lighter spots)
Advantages of MRI
4
- Extremely valuable in demonstrating soft tissue involvement
- Sensitive enough to evaluate mucous membranes
- Can distinguish tumor from inflammation and inspissated mucus
- Useful if malignancy suspected (acoustic neuroma)
Throat & Nasal Swab and Culture
- INdications for throat? 3
- Indications for nose? 2
- Indications: (throat)
–Sore throat
–Fever of unknown origin
–Chronic carriers with a recurrent infection
- Indications: (nose)
–Nasal or sinus infections (usually not for sinusitis because you get too much normal flora to differentiate)
–Carriers of pathogenic bacteria
What do we need to remember about cultures?
•All cultures should be performed before antibiotic therapy is initiated
•Throat Cultures
–Used to identify a few particular pathogens that indicate the need for treatment. What are some examples? 4
- Bordatella pertussis
- Streptococci, esp. beta-hemolytic strep
- Meningococci,
- Corynebacterium diptheriae
•Nasal and nasopharnygeal cultures or PCR
- Purpose?
- Which bugs would we use a nasal swab for? 2
- Nasopharyngeal swab? 4
–Identify infections and carrier states
- Nasal swab
- Staph aureus
- MRSA
- Nasopharyngeal swab
- H-flu
- RSV
- Influenza
- Pertussis
•Nasal swab and culture: Steps to the procedure?
5
- Gently raise tip of nose
- Insert flexible swab into nare
- Rotate swab against side of nare
- Remove swab and place in appropriate culture tube
- Always wear gloves and handle the specimen carefully
•Nasopharyngeal swab and culture: Steps to the procedure 5
- Gently raise the tip of the nose
- Insert FLEXIBLE swab along bottom of nare medially
- Gently move the swab until it reaches the posterior pharynx
- Rotate swab to obtain secretions
- Place swab in an appropriate culture tube