Imaging Flashcards
What are some common things that can go wrong with the GIT?
- Dilation
- Perforation
- Thickened wall
- Mucosal disease
- Dysmotility
What are some causes of bowel dilation?
- (blocked) Obstruction
- (unhappy) Ileus
- (too full) malabsorption
- (dead) ischaemia/infarction
What is intestinal volvulus?
Intestine gets twisted causing obstruction.
- causes severe abdominal pain
What are the symptoms of small bowel obstruction?
Vomiting and pain
What is indicated by air in the wall of the bowel?
Ischemia/Infarction
What is intussusception?
Bowel retracts onto itself (like a collapsible telescope)
What imaging modality would be used for the GI lumen?
X-ray, fluoroscopy
What imaging modality would be used for a cross sectional image?
CT, MRI, US
What imaging modality would be used for measuring GI function?
Nuclear medicine
What imaging modality can also be used for intervention?
Angiography
What are some complications of Celiac Sprue?
Intussusception, small bowel lymphoma
How is perforation diagnosed with imaging?
Free air
- btwn liver and diaphragm
- within bowel wall
What are benign causes of free air (ie. patient does not appear sick on presentation)?
Post-op, pneumatosis intestinalis (air in wall of intestine)
What are critical causes of free air (ie. patient appears sick on presentation)?
Perforation
- ulcer
- appendix
- diverticulum
- cancer
What are some causes of a thick-walled intestine?
ie. what is in the walls?
- water
- pus (infection)
- blood
- cells (cancer)
- fat
