GI Diagnostic Studies

Question 1

black on an abdominal x ray depicts what?

Answer 1

air (gas)

Question 2

white on an abdominal x ray depicts what?

Answer 2

calcification (bone)

Question 3

grey on an abdominal x ray depicts what?

Answer 3

soft tissue (liver)

Question 4

darker gret on an abdominal x ray depicts what?

Answer 4

fat

Question 5

intestine white on an abdominal x ray depicts what?

Answer 5

metallic objects

Question 6

how is an obstruction depicted on an abdominal x ray?

Answer 6

dilated bowel proximal to obstruction with collapsed bowel distally
will also see air. fluid level

Question 7

what is a paralytic ileus?

Answer 7

a non mechanical bowel obstruction

Question 8

how is a paralytic ileus depicted on an abdominal x ray?

Answer 8

a dilated bowel with gas in both small and large intestine

Question 9

how is a perforation depicted on an abdominal x ray?

Answer 9

there will be free air outside of the bowel

Question 10

how is an Intussusception

depicted on an abdominal x ray?

Answer 10

you will see signs of obstruction

Question 11

what is an Intussusception?

Answer 11

a condition in which one segment of intestine “telescopes” inside of another, causing an intestinal obstruction. this creates swelling and decreases blood flow which may lead to tissue damage

Question 12

valvulae conniventes are present in the

Answer 12

small bowel

Question 13

haustrations are present in the

Answer 13

large bowel

Question 14

Sickle-shaped free air on both sides under the diaphragm depicts what?

Answer 14

free air, a perforation

Question 15

is intussusception an emergency or can treatment me scheduled for later? and what is the treatment?

Answer 15

emergency treatment required

treatment is barium enema or surgery

Question 16

what is a contraindication for abdominal x rays?

Answer 16

pregnancy, this is a relative contraindication (use risk benefit ratio)

Question 17

during a UGI series a patient will drink what? when a fluoroscopy is used to visualize what 3 structures?

Answer 17

the patient drinks barium sulfate contrast and the fluoroscopy is used to visualize esophagus stomach and first part of the duodenum

Question 18

which test is also referred to as the barium swallow and images the throat and esophagus only?

Answer 18

esophagram

Question 19

which 5 things is a UGI indicated for

Answer 19

dysphagia/dyspepsia 
GERD symptoms
Early satiety 
Suspected PUD 
Suspected obstruction/ inflammation

Question 20

list 7 findings of a UGI series

Answer 20

Hiatal hernia 
Cancer
Ulcers 
Diverticula
Benign tumors
Extrinsic compression 
Perforation

Question 21

If you believe there is a perforation which caution should you use for during a UGI series

Answer 21

use a water-soluble Gastrografin instead of barium sulfate contrast

Question 22

what is a filling defect?

Answer 22

a displacement of contrast medium by space occupying lesion (such as a tumor) in a radiographic study of a contrast filled hollow viscus

Question 23

what is a fluoroscopy?

Answer 23

an “x ray movie”

Question 24

what are the contraindication for a UGI series?

Answer 24

Pregnancy (relative)
complete bowel obstruction
unstable vitals

Question 25

what is found on barium enema that can not be found on UGI series

Answer 25

IBD, looking for narrowing of barium column due to inflammation