lecture 17 - abdomen imaging Flashcards
What are the key pathologies that can be found with an abdominal xray?
Small or large bowel obstruction, free air in abdomen
How are contrast studies used for abdomen imaging?
To identify polyps/cancers/obstructions in the bowel
What pathology is typically diagnosed with abdominal ultrasound?
Gall stones
What does a dilated bowel on imaging indicate?
An obstruction downstream of the dilation
What is an intestinal volvulus?
When a loop of intestine and the surrounding mesentery twists on itself
What is the likely cause of an elevated diaphragm on the right side with free gas below seen on xray?
Free gas above the liver is abnormal and likely caused by a bowel perforation
What is Rigler’s sign on abdominal imaging?
When both sides of the bowel wall can be seen with imaging, and suggests there is air outside the bowel
If parts of the pancreas can be seen more clearly on imaging, what does this indicate?
Pancreatic calcification
What are the 2 main histological classifications of polyps
Tubular, villus (can have tubulovillous if there is a combination)
What is an ‘apple core’ lesion?
A cancer (annular lesion) that grows circumferentially around the lumen of the bowel
In what scenario can free air under the diaphragm be considered normal?
For up to 1 week after abdominal surgery
