Imaging Flashcards
Why request AXR? (4)
Acute abdo pain
Bowel obstruction
IBD exacerbation
Renal colic
What projection are AXRs?
AP
Describe the features of an AXR (5)
Air / gas - bowel gas is normal and black
Bowel - position, lines across, solid
Calcifications / stones - renal stones, calcified gallstones
Dem bones - fractures
Everything else - kidneys, liver, spleen, external artefacts.
Describe the features of volvulus on AXR. (1)
Coffee bean sign towards RUQ if sigmoid.
Describe the features of severe ulcerative colitis on AXR. (2)
Lead pipe colon - featureless (no haustra).
Oedematous, thickened haustra forming thumbprinting.
Describe the causes of calcification of AXR. (4)
Renal calculi
Pancreatic calcification
Vascular calcification
Calcified gallstones.
Give 5 causes of perforation and explain how they would be diagnosed.
Peptic ulcer, obstruction, tumour, trauma, iatrogenic.
Erect CXR to see air under diaphragm (not gastric bubble on L).
Describe the different types of contrast studies. (4)
Swallow - swallow it ‘live’ on x Ray to show cause of dysphagia
Meal - stomach pathology
Follow through - small intestine pathology
Enema - large intestine pathology.
Describe the use of CT scans. (3)
Clear image of the anatomical level, and can be reconstructed into 3D but that’s a lot of radiation to not be able to biopsy while you visualise.
Describe what you would see on a CT at the anatomical level T10. (4)
IVC embedded into liver, coeliac trunk, fundus of stomach, spleen.
Describe what you would see on a CT at the anatomical level T12 (8)
Round ligament of the liver, pancreas, SMA, jejunum, colon, gallbladder, kidneys, renal arteries.
Describe what you would see on a CT at the anatomical level L3. (3)
Lots of duodenum, bottom of gallbladder, IMA.
Describe what you would see on a CT at the anatomical level L4. (2)
Division of aorta into common iliac, ilium.
Describe the GI use for MRIs. (1)
IBD strictures.
Describe the GI uses for USS. (2)
Gallstones, appendicitis.
