Lecture 22: General Abdominal Radiography

Question 1

Radiographs or ultrasound: snapshot of disease

Answer 1

radiographs

Question 2

radiographs or ultrasound: real time

Answer 2

ultrasound

Question 3

what do you want kVp and mAs for abdominal radiographs and why

Answer 3

1. High kVp (~70)- moderate contrast, shades of grey
2. Moderate mAs (8-12) minimizes motion, maximizes contrast

Question 4

what are your landmarks you want to include for abdominal x-ray

Answer 4

1. Caudal thorax (diaphragm)
2. Greater trochanter of femur

Question 5

center X-ray beam caudal to __ for abdominal rad

Answer 5

Last rib

Question 6

identify 1-2 and is this and right or left lateral- how do you know

Answer 6

1. Stomach
2. Colon
   Right lateral- gas in fundus

Question 7

Identify 1-4 and what view is this

Answer 7

VD
1. Left and right kidneys
2. Colon
3. Stomach
4. Spleen

Question 8

what circled

Answer 8

liver

Question 9

what is the most cranial organ in abdomen

Answer 9

liver

Question 10

what side of the abdomen is spleen on

Answer 10

left

Question 11

spleen is caudal to the __

Answer 11

stomach

Question 12

on a VD the left kidney is medial to the __ and caudal to the __

Answer 12

Spleen, caudal to fundus of stomach

Question 13

which kidney is typically more cranial on a VD

Answer 13

right

Question 14

cranial aspect of teh right kidney is not seen due to

Answer 14

hidden by renal fossa of liver

Question 15

what circled

Answer 15

stomach and duodenum

Question 16

Identify 1-2 and what view is this

Answer 16

1. Pylorus
2. Duodenum
   Left lateral- gas in pylorus

Question 17

what circled

Answer 17

esophagus

Question 18

What circled

Answer 18

liver

Question 19

the pylorus is gas filled in what view

Answer 19

left lateral

Question 20

the pylorus is caudal to the __

Answer 20

liver

Question 21

what view is the descending duodenum gas filled

Answer 21

left lateral

Question 22

what circled

Answer 22

duodenum

Question 23

What circled

Answer 23

Spleen

Question 24

what species is the spleen not seen in on lateral rads unless enlarged

Answer 24

cats

Question 25

what circled

Answer 25

Right kidney

Question 26

the __kidney is cranial to __kidney in left lateral

Answer 26

right, left

Question 27

what circled

Answer 27

left kidney

Question 28

The fundus is gas filled on what view

Answer 28

right lateral

Question 29

what circled

Answer 29

urinary bladder

Question 30

Why is a cat abdomen easier to evaluate on X-ray

Answer 30

increased fat, providing good detail and contrast

Question 31

what circled and what is it often confused for

Answer 31

deep circumflex iliac artery Confused for medial iliac lymph nodes or ureteral caliculi

Question 32

what wrong/circled

Answer 32

nothing incidental finding- lucency on ventral aspect of L3-4- due to where diaphragm attaches

Question 33

x-ray of cat- what wrong

Answer 33

cholesterol granulomas- incidental finding

Question 34

what circled/wrong

Answer 34

spondylosis deform as

Question 35

Where is retroperitoneal space located

Answer 35

dorsal to colon

Question 36

what organs are in retroperitoneal space

Answer 36

kidneys, adrenal glands, lymph nodes

Question 37

if you see colon displaced ventrally where is the problem likely

Answer 37

retroperitoneal space- problem with kidneys, adrenal glands or lymph nodes

Question 38

with communicates with mediastinum- retroperitoneal or peritoneal space

Answer 38

retroperitoneal

Question 39

the peritoneal space surrounds __

Answer 39

visceral organs

Question 40

Identify spaces indicated by 1-2

Answer 40

1. Retroperitoneal space 2. Peritoneal space

Question 41

in peritoneal space you get loss of __detail

Answer 41

serosal

Question 42

what can cause loss of serosal detail in peritoneal space

Answer 42

1. Poor rad technique 2. Lack of fat content 3. Peritoneal fluid 4. Carcinomatosis 5. Peritonitis

Question 43

soft tissue and __ are similar opacities

Answer 43

fluid

Question 44

which is better for peritoneal fluid: ultrasound or rads

Answer 44

ultrasound

Question 45

emaciation has a similar appearance on rads to __

Answer 45

fluid

Question 46

Why is it hard to differentiate emaciation vs fluid

Answer 46

lack of fat to provide contrast

Question 47

how can you tell difference of fluid vs emaciation

Answer 47

Size of abdomen Distended with fluid

Question 48

what are some causes of peritoneal fluid

Answer 48

1. Increased hydrostatic pressure 2. Decreased oncotic pressure 3. Capillary permeability

Question 49

What wrong

Answer 49

peritoneal fluid

Question 50

what wrong and what cause

Answer 50

Huge retroperitoneal space- compressing colon ventrally Giant left kidney

Question 51

What abdominal LN can you sometimes see on radiographs

Answer 51

medial iliac lymph node (sublumbar)

Question 52

what wrong/what arrow pointing at

Answer 52

large medial iliac LN Compressing colon ventrally

Question 53

pneumoretroperitoneum is usually associated with __ and __

Answer 53

1. Subcutaneous emphysema 2. Pneumomediastinum

Question 54

what wrong, location

Answer 54

pneumoretroperitoneum Note black gas in retroperitoneal space, not peritoneal

Question 55

pneumoperitoneum can persist __-__ days after surgery

Answer 55

10-14 days

Question 56

pig abdomen, what wrong, what technique was used

Answer 56

Impaction- gave barium enema

Question 57

what wrong

Answer 57

traumatic reticuloperitonitis- gas and fluid- can’t see cardiac silhouette