Imaging of the Urological system Flashcards
What is a Roentgen sign?
abnormal finding in radiographs that are used to describe diseases and other conditions in radiographs
What may an irregular kidney shape on a radiograph indicate?
- End-stage renal disease
- Neoplasia
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Abscesses/ Granuloma
Which kidney is more cranial?
Right kidney is more cranial, they often overlap on a lateral view
What may an increased radiopacity show in the kidneys?
- Nephrocalcinosis
- Metabolic disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Ethylene glycol toxicity
- Uroliths
What may a decreased radiopacity show in the kidneys?
- IVU- Loss of functional nephrons
- Hydronephrosis
What does reduced margination show in the kidneys?
Retroperitoneal haemorrhage (trauma)
What is the opacity of the bladder on a radiograph?
Soft-tissue opacity, can identify mineralisation
What is a pneumocystogram?
Radiography of the bladder after it has been injected with air
negative contrast
highlights the bladder wall
Where may you see bladder neoplasia?
- Trigone region
(Transitional cell carcinoma)
Where may you see bladder inflammation?
Cranioventral view
thickening of the bladder wall
What does a positive bladder contrast look like?
- Iodine based contrast medium
- Highlights the loss of normal architecture
- Provides better mucousal/ surface detail than negative contrast
What can you see on a positive contrast bladder radiography?
- Ruptured bladder/ urethra
- any congenital abnormalities
- but.. may obscure calculi
How would you do a double contrast cystogram?
- Pneumocystogram
- Then introduce positive contrast
- this provides optimal mucousal detail
What would you see on a contrast radiography of the bladder?
- Identifies small intra-luminal lesions
- highlights the wall thickness of the bladder
- Highlights any filling defects (radiolucent masses within the bladder) (calculi and contrast lie in the centre of the bladder shadow
What is the average size of the cat kidney?
3.5cm (+/- 0.5) length
What are the benefits of ultrasound use in urinary studies?
- Internal architecture of the kidney and bladder wall
- Identify the causes of renal enlargement
- Real time sampling
- Evaluation of blood flow
- superior detection of small calculi and sand-like material
What are the limitations of ultrasound use in urinary studies?
- Distal ureter hard to visualise unless severe dilation
- Difficult to confirm the bladder rupture/ laceration
- Not a global picture of the abdomen
What is congenital aplasia?
absence of the kidney
What is congenital hypoplasia?
small kidney
What may acute nephritis look like?
increased echogenicity
What may chronic nephritis look like?
small kidney, loss of corticomedullary contrast/ definition
What does pyelonephritis look like?
dilation of pelvis and proximal ureter
What does a kidney abscess look like?
focal renal, hypoechoci mass
What is urolithiasis?
Hyperechoic with distal acoustic shadowing
What does kidney trauma look like?
- loss of normal architecture
- hypoechoic to anechoic blood in the retroperitoneal space
What does kidney neoplasia look like on a radiograph?
Loss of architecture but an increase in size
What does polycystic kidney disease look like?
Thin-walled structures containing hypoechoic/ anechoic fluid
What does ethylene glycol look like on a kidney radiograph?
- Increased echogenicity cortex
- Loss of differentiation
What does amyloidosis look like on a kidney radiograph?
- Increased echogenicity
- reduced corticomedullary differentiation
- thick hyperechoic perineal tissue
What does hydronephrosis look like on an ultrasound radiograph?
- Dilation of the renal pelvis
- large kidney
- indicates obstruction if the pelvis >7mm
