Liver and Lymph Nodes Flashcards
What is the opacity of the liver
soft tissue opacity
largest solid organ in the abdomen
What is the normal position of the liver
caudal to diaphragm
cranial to stomach
What is the margination of the liver
smooth and well defined especially on laterals - oblong or triangular shape
what is abundant in cats and sits ventral to the liver
falciform fat
What kinds of dogs and cats have larger liver compared to body size
Juvenile dogs and cats
What is notable about the radiographic appearance of the liver in older dogs and cats
stretching or elongation of the triangular ligaments that attaches the liver to the diaphragm leading to sagging and caudal extension
How does liver size determine the gastric axis
Hepatomegaly displaces it caudally
Microhepatia displaces it cranially
What are the radiographic signs of hepatomegaly
1) Rounding or blunting of the caudoventral liver margins
2) Extension beyond the costal arch
3) Caudal and perhaps medial displacement of the gastric axis
What does the visualization of focal hepatomegaly depend on
1) right sided vs left sided mass = displacement of adhacent viscera such as stomach
2) Usually best on VD
3) Pedunculate liver masses may extend caudally to the stomach (and not displace the stomach)
What might cause focal hepatomegaly
Primary or Metastatic Neoplasia
Abscess
Granuloma
Cysts
What might cause generalized hepatomegaly
Inflammation (acute hepatitis)
Endocrine Hepatopathy (Cushings, DM)
Drug Induced (steroids)
Hepatic Venous Congestion (R CHF)
Lipidosis
Infiltrative Disease
Primary or Metastatic Neoplasia
What allows the stomach to be displaced more cranial than normal
Microhepatia
What causes Microphepatia
1) Chronic Liver Disease
2) Cirrhosis
3) Portosystemic Shunts (PSS)
4) Deep Chested Breeds: appearance of small liver- liver lies within the costal arch
What could result in increased liver opacity
1) Choleliths
2) Choledocholiths
3) Parenchymal mineralization (dystrophic mineralization of granulomas, neoplasia, abscesses)
What could result in radiolucency of the liver
Intrahepatic gas
1) Biliary system- linear or branching
2) Portal Venous System- linear or branching
3) Hepatic parenchyma- often collection of small gas bubbles
What does intrahepatic gas in the hepatic parenchyma look like
often collection of small gas bubbles
-concern for abscess or necrotic tumor, needs further investigation
What does intrahepatic gas in the biliary system look like
linear or branching
What does intrahepatic gas in the portal venous system look like
linear or branching
What opacity are lymph nodes
soft tissue opacity
Are radiographs or ultrasound more sensitive for abdominal lymph nodes
ultrasound
Radiographs are most commonly used for evaluating what kind of lymph nodes
Sublumbar
Where are the sublumbar lymph nodes on radiograph?
Ventral and Caudal to the Lumbar Vertebrae
What can be seen as a mid-abdominal mass if really large
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes but hard to definitively ID mass as lymph node on radiographs
Enlarged Sublumbar lymph nodes could indicate
Primary disease of
Prostate
Anal Sac
Bladder
Lymphoma
COlon
Prepuce
Pelvic Region
Hindlimbs
what is the size and shape of lymph nodes
small, oblong to round
