Pathologies

Question 1

What are the clinical symptoms of a retroperitoneum abscess?

Answer 1

• fever of unknown origin
• chills
• weakness
• malaise
• pain at site of injection
• tenderness and/or swelling post-op

Question 2

What are lab values of a retroperitoneal abscess?

Answer 2

• normal liver function
• increased WBC
• generalized sepsis

Question 3

What are sonographic findings of a retroperitoneal abscess?

Answer 3

• irregular shaped complex mass

- gas may be noted as a bright reflective pattern with shadow

Question 4

What causes retroperitoneal abscess’?

Answer 4

• trauma
• surgery
• perforation of bowel

Question 5

Where are retroperitoneal abscess’ typically located?

Answer 5

within the most dependent portion of the retroperitoneal space

Question 6

What is a rectus sheath hematoma?

Answer 6

the most common superficial abdominal wall hematoma

Question 7

What are clinical symptoms of rectus sheath hematoma

Answer 7

• pain
• palpable mass which persists while sitting and in supine
• skin discoloration (bruising)

Question 8

What are lab values of a rectus sheath hematoma?

Answer 8

decrease in hematocrit

Question 9

Where are rectus sheath hematomas located?

Answer 9

• unilateral/bilateral

- small/large (ranges from small space to entire length of ab. muscle/sheath)

Question 10

What is an arcuate line?

Answer 10

the abrupt termination of the posterior sheath

Question 11

What is a hernia?

Answer 11

a weakened point in the abdominal wall that allows structures to bulge out

Question 12

What causes a hernia?

Answer 12

obesity, heavy lifting, coughing, straining

Question 13

What are the three parts of a hernia?

Answer 13

1. sac
2. contents of sac
3. covering of sac

Question 14

What are complications of a hernia?

Answer 14

• strangulation
• incarceration
• nonreducible

Question 15

What are sonographic findings of a hernia?

Answer 15

• compromises of the abdominal wall

Question 16

How should you use sonography to identify a hernia?

Answer 16

• imaging the patient in supine and upright positions

- use dynamic imaging (valsalva, compression)

Question 17

What causes trauma?

Answer 17

• penetrating wounds
• blows to the abdomen
• hyperextension

Question 18

What are sonographic findings of trauma?

Answer 18

• subcutaneous edema
• muscle contusions (thickening)
• hematoma

Question 19

What are the 7 kinds of neoplasm tumors?

Answer 19

1. lipoma
2. calcification in old scar
3. desmoid tumor
4. soft tissue sarcoma
5. metastatic carcinoma
6. melanoma
7. endometrioma

Question 20

What is a lipoma?

Answer 20

a tumor containing fat; most common benign mass of abdominal wall and subcutaneous tissue

Question 21

What are sonographic findings of a lipoma?

Answer 21

hyperechoic or isoechoic to adipose tissue

Question 22

What is a desmoid tumor?

Answer 22

aggressive fibromatosis; benign fibrous tissue mass generally located anterior to abdominal wall

Question 23

What age are desmoid tumors most common in?

Answer 23

patients aged 20-40

Question 24

What are sonographic findings of a desmoid tumor?

Answer 24

homogeneous, hypoechoic to isoechoic mass

Question 25

What is a neuroma?

Answer 25

a tumor of the nerve

Question 26

What are sonographic findings of a neuroma?

Answer 26

single, hypoechoic lesion

Question 27

What are the 3 most common sarcomas?

Answer 27

1. liposarcoma
2. rhabdomyosarcoma
3. fibrosarcoma

Question 28

What are sonographic findings of sarcomas?

Answer 28

hypoechoic or isoechoic to surrounding tissue