Imaging diagnostics and biopsies Flashcards
Indications for chest x-ray
Asymptomatic patients (screening for cancer/TB)
Symptomatic patients: chest pain, fever, persistent cough, shortness of breath
Asthma/bronchiectasis CXR indications
Only if diagnosis is unclear or the patient undergoes a severe attack
Absolute contraindications of CXR
None
Relative contraindications of CXR
Pregnancy, patient weight
Pulmonary consolidation
replacement of air-filled regions of lung tissue with liquid
Atelectasis
loss of lung volume
Shifting of trachea
- to the opposite site in pleural effusion
- to the same side in atelectasis
Consolidation presentation
Areas of opacification (less transparent), silhouette sign
Silhouette sign
Loss of sharp outline
Cavitations
Appear as darker areas (radiolucency)
Tuberculoma
Round nodule with a sharp edge
TB features on x-ray
Tuberculoma, cavitations, fibrosis, calcification
Honeycombing
Feature in fibrosis where small cystic spaces will create a honeycomb appearance
Traction bronchiectasis
Airway distortion due to mechanical traction on bronchi from surrounding fibrosis
Mediastinal masses - anterior compartment
Thymic tumors
Thyroid masses
Dermoid cysts
Mediastinal masses - middle compartment
Enlargment of aorta or ventricle
Mediastinal masses - posterior compartment
Neural lesions
Esophageal cysts
Most common uses for CT
To investigate mediastinal disease, to stage cancer and to determine extent of bronchiectasis
HRCT
High res CT
Provides detailed images of all lung tissue, useful for emphysema and ILD
Does not image the whole long, not suitable for screening or lung cancer assessment
MRI in pulmonology
Not used much, but useful for:
assessment of pancoast tumors and possible cysts
suspected PE where contrast material cant be given
detect metastasis to the brain (exam Q)
Ultrasound
Useful for locating pleural effusions, to visualize PTX and perform EBUS, but not much else