GI imaging Flashcards
What is Murphy’s sign?
a test for gallbladder disease in which the patient is asked to inhale while the examiner’s fingers are hooked under the liver border at the bottom of the rib cage. The inspiration causes the gallbladder to descend onto the fingers, producing pain if the gallbladder is inflamed.
What is your first line investigation for RUQ pain suspected liver/gallbladder disease?
USS
What would you see on US with Gallstones?
Liver, fluid filled gallbladder and nodules .
Posterior shadow showing radio waves cannot pass through stones.
Can you get cholectystitis without gallstones?
Yes- Acalculi cholecystitis.
Often blood born
If the pain form cholecystitis exacerbated by eating?
Yes because that causes the gall bladder to contract
Can you identify a dilated bile duct on USS?
Yes
If you see a dilated bile duct on USS what is your next investigation?
MRCP to clarify where the stone is and then follow up with therapeutic ERCP.
If there is a stone in the gallbladder what is the treatment?
Remove it with ERCP urgently. Let the inflammation reduce and then you can do a prophylactic elective lap cholycystectomy to remove the gallbladder later.
If you have cholecystititis without a dilated CBD what is the treatment?
IV antibiotics and then remove the gallbladder
What imaging is used for the diagnosis of pancreatitis?
Nothing. Its a clinical diagnosis- amylase.
When would you use imaging in pancreatitis and what would you chose?
Determine the cause: USS scan to look for gall stones.
Or to look for complications of necrosis, abscesses, pseudocystsor vascular.Use a CT scan. Performed 1 weeks following symptom onset if no improvement or worsening
What are the signs of perforation of the bowel?
Localised or generalised puritanism (ridgid abdomen)
Guarding if its a small walled off perforation.
If you suspect perforation, what is your first line investigation?
Erect CXR to look for air under the diaphragm
If you see air under the diaphragm on a CXR what is your next imaging step?
CT scan to look for where the perforation (see air and fluid) is before sending for surgery.
When would you use an USS scan if you suspect appendicitis?
Children
Pregnancy women
Thin people
What may you see on USS in apendicitis?
If you’re lucky you may see distended appendix with inflamed walled and fluid filled. Calcified appendicolith
Otherwise you may see surrounding features like, fluid in abdoment, inflamed lymph nodes.