Spleen and Peritoneal Space Flashcards
What is the opacity of the spleen
soft tissue opacity
may seen on both lateral and VD radiographs
What is the correct positioning of the sleep
Head of spleen- left cranial abdomen
Tail of spleen- variable, often midventral abdomen on lateral
What causes generalized splenomegaly
sedation
anesthesia
systemic disease
splenic torsion
neoplasia (lymphoma)
What are the radiographic signs of generalized splenomegaly
maintains failry normal shape but occupies more of the ventral abdomen
What do you not see on a lateral rad of a cats spleen *
YOU should not see the tail on lateral
What is seen radiographically with focal splenomegaly
focal enlargement - often rounded masses
large soft tissue structure in mid-abdomen, displacing small bowel in all directions
rounded mass in ventral abdomen
What causes focal splenomegaly
1) Neoplasia (benign or malignant) like hemagionoma or hemangiosarcoma
2) Extramedullary hematopoiesis
3) Hematoma
Classic splenic mass
Mid-abdominal soft tissue mass
displaces small intestine around it
caudal to liver and stomach
What are the radiographic signs of splenic torsion
change in splenic postion
two triangles seen in the ventral abdomen
What on ultrasound shows splenic torsion
doppler to see bloodflow vein and occluded first
T/F: the peritoneal space normally has a small amount of fluid
T: Peritoneal Space does
visualization of the serosal surfaces of the lvier, spleen, GI tract, and urinary bladder should be possible
What could cause increased opacity in the peritoneal space
1) Fluid: blood, urine, bile, chyle, hemorrhage, hypoalbuminemia, transudates, and exudates
2) Carcinomatosis
3) Loss of serosal detail - border effacement (silhouette sign)
How does US differ from Rad and PE in its ability to dx peritoneal effisuions
US: small volumes 0.45mL/Ib
Rad: dx 4ml/lb
PE only large volumes enough for distension (20ml/lb)
What could allow for very good to excellent visualization of the peritioneal structures
free gas in the peritoneal space
What are the radiographic signs of free gas in the peritoneal space
1) Gas between the liver lobes and between the diaphragm and the liber *
2) Sometimes seen as gas bubbles and not associated with loops of bowel
