Imaging of circulatory disturbances Flashcards
What are the different methods of anatomical imaging?
Plain films, US, MRI/CR and contrast angiography.
What are the different methods of functional imaging?
Radionuclide imaging, MRI functional imaging, US and pressure measurement.
What are the problems with vascular imaging?
Soft tissue contrast, functional significance of lesions and is treatment effective?
Which structure is most dense on imaging?
Metal. Air is least dense.
What are the problems with imaging?
Blood vessels and lumen are difficult to see without contrast.
Name some ideal properties of a contrast agent.
Same attenuation as surroundings, spreads evenly in body compartment, easy to administer, painless, cheap.
Give the properties of iodinated contrast.
Painless, easy to use, cheap, inert, stable in selected body compartments and differential x-ray attenuation.
What are the problems with iodinated contrast?
Major reactions, renal dysfunction, disturbance of thyroid metabolism, disturbance of clotting, seizures and pulmonary oedema.
What is parenteral iodinated contrast?
Metallic taste and feeling of warmth. Rarely nausea.
Describe catheter angiography.
Vessel is punctured and catheterised. Sterile procedure. Contrast injected using a pump and imaged.
What is interventional radiology?
Minimally invasive treatment of lots of things.
When would angioplasty be used?
For stenosis or occlusions. Problems are occlusion, dissection, embolisation, rupture and infection.
When would CO2 be used as a contrast agent?
A negative contrast agent useful for patients with poor renal function/sensitivity to iodinated contrast.
What are the benefits of US?
No radiation, quick, non-invasive, operator dependent.
Using US, what will a vein look like with a DVT?
Fill of thrombus and not compressible.
