Ex 1 - Large Bowel

Question 1

Normal rad appearance of Lg Bowel

Answer 1

• pattern of fine and evenly distributed gas bubbles

- “question mark”

Question 2

Dog cecum - appearance

Answer 2

Corkscrew or C-shaped, right mid-abdomen

Question 3

Cat cecum - appearance

Answer 3

short cone-shaped, usually can’t see on survey rads

Question 4

Longest segment of the large bowel?

Answer 4

Colon

Question 5

Are contrast studies of the colon common?

Answer 5

No! Endoscopy and US have largely replaced rad contrast studies of the colon

Question 6

Path of the Colon

Answer 6

Ascending colon
Right colonic flexure
Left colonic flexure (**)
Descending colon

Question 7

Pneumocolon

Answer 7

Simple technique to help differentiate small from large intestine

Administer room air via catheter tipped syringe

Question 8

Megacolon - pathology

Answer 8

• generalized enlargement of the colon
• consistently significantly larger than normal
• due to mechanical or functional obstruction
• characterized by diffuse colonic dilation with ineffective motility
• idiopathic or acquired

Question 9

Causes of megacolon (6)

Answer 9

• Narrowing of the pelvic canal - after trauma (fractures)
• Strictures
• Neoplasia of colon wall
• External masses (prostrate, nodes)
• Spinal anomalies (Manx cats)
• Feline idopathic megacolon

Question 10

Causes of megacolon, coned (5)

Answer 10

• chronic constipation and obstipation from nutritional, metabolic, or mechanical causes
• neuromuscular disorders (dysautonomia, Hirschsprung dz)
• Metabolic dz (hypokalemia, hypothyroid)
• perineal hernia
• anorectal congenital abnormalities

Question 11

Is megacolon a diagnosis?

Answer 11

NO! Megacolon is a sign and rad finding –> need to find underlying cause