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Abdominal Diagnostic imaging > Normal Abdomen > Flashcards

Normal Abdomen Flashcards

(47 cards)

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1
Q

What is the systematic approach for assessing abdominal radiographs?

A
  • Quality assessment
  • Serosal detail
  • Retroperitoneum
  • Solid organs - Kidneys, liver, spleen
  • Hollow organs - Stomach, SI, colon, duodenum, caecum
  • Caudal abdomen - SL LNs, bladder, prostate/uterus
  • ‘Outside’ - skeleton, abdominal wall, diaphragm, thorax
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2
Q

What is serosal detail?

A

How well the organs are seen in the peritoneum

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3
Q

What indicates decreased serosal detail?

A

Abdominal fluid

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4
Q

What are the two compartments in the abdomen that do not communicate?

A
  • Peritoneum
  • Retroperitoneum
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5
Q

What is contained within the retroperitoneum?

A
  • Kidneys
  • Adrenal glands
  • Most of the ureters
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6
Q

What is the ‘My Father Says Thank You’ mnemonic used for?

A

Differential diagnosis for decreased serosal detail

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7
Q

What are the components of the ‘My Father Says Thank You’ mnemonic?

A
  • Mass
  • Fluid
  • Skinny
  • Technique
  • Young
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8
Q

What is assessed in the retroperitoneum on radiographs?

A
  • Muscles ventral to the spine
  • Normal fat opacity
  • Visibility of kidneys
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9
Q

What is the Triad used for in radiographic assessment?

A

Determining the location of fundus, spleen, and kidney

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10
Q

What indicates splenomegaly in a cat?

A

Seeing the tail of the spleen on a lateral view

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11
Q

What is the normal size ratio of kidneys compared to L2 in dogs?

A

2.5-3.5

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12
Q

What is the normal size ratio of kidneys compared to L2 in cats?

A

1.9-2.6

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13
Q

What two points are used to assess gastric axis (liver size)?

A

Fundus and pylorus - line drawn between the two

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14
Q

What indicates hepatomegaly when assessing the liver?

A

Rounded margin along the caudoventral edge and increased gastric axis

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15
Q

What is the first gas seen caudal to the liver indicative of?

A

The stomach

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16
Q

What is the normal content of the GIT in the stomach?

A
  • Ingesta (heterogenous gas and soft tissue opacity)
  • Fluid
  • Gas
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17
Q

What is the normal stomach size in a fasting dog?

A

Less than 3 intercostal spaces wide

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18
Q

How long should a patient be fasted prior to radiography?

A

At least 12 hours

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19
Q

What should be assessed in the small intestine on radiographs?

Study These Flashcards
A

Width (serosa to serosa):
*Compared to L5 (dog <1.6 x L5 height at narrowest part; cat <2xL5 hight of end plate)
* Compared to eachother
* Shape: Smooth sweeping continuously curving tubes, solid circles or rings in transverse

20
Q

What is the typical shape of the small intestine on radiographs?

Study These Flashcards
A

Smooth, sweeping, continuously curving tubes; solid circles or rings in transverse

21
Q

What is the expected location of the pylorus and fundus in dogs? (VD view)

Study These Flashcards
A

90° degrees to the spine on lateral view

22
Q

What is the expected location of the pylorus and fundus in cats? (VD view)

Study These Flashcards
A

pylorus on the midline, further caudal than the fundus; fundus 45° to the spine

23
Q

What is the expected visibility of the gall bladder in cats?

Study These Flashcards
A

*Can occasionally be seen ventral
to the liver on the lateral view
*Not to be mistaken for a bulging liver mass.

24
Q

What is the expected visibility of the gall bladder in dogs?

Study These Flashcards
A

Not seen, but know the location to look out for calculi
and gas (infection in the gall bladder by gas producing bacteria)

25
Describe the content, size and location of the caecum (only dogs)
Content: Usually gas filled. Can have the same content as the colon eg faeces, fluid if there is diarrhoea Size: It can be quite large, but this is rarely of any significance Location: At approximately the level of L3 on both views Careful not to mistake it for a segment of dilated small intestine
26
Where can the colon always be found on a radiograph?
At the pelvic inlet
27
What are the four locations for abdominal masses?
Cranial - cranial to the stomach is almost always liver Mid - Usually spleen; DDX pedunculated liver, mesenteric Retroperitoneal - stays dorsal. can be a mass (usuallty kidney or adrenal) or fluid (bleeding adrenal tumour, trauma (blood, urine)) Caudal (distended bladder, SL LNs, prostate, pyometra)
28
What is the rough rule of thumb for the size of a fasting dog's stomach?
<3 intercostal spaces wide ## Footnote This measurement helps assess normal stomach size before radiography.
29
How long should a patient be fasted before radiography?
At least 12 hours ## Footnote Fasting is important for accurate interpretation of the gastrointestinal tract.
30
What is the normal small intestine size in dogs compared to L5 height?
<1.6 x L5 height at the narrowest part ## Footnote This measurement is crucial for assessing the small intestine's size.
31
What is the normal small intestine size in cats compared to L5 height?
<2 x L5 height of the endplate ## Footnote This is used for evaluating the small intestine's size.
32
What should be done if the duodenum appears larger than the other small intestine?
hard to tell apart from a functional ileus or a partial obstruction - so do follow up radiographs in 6-12h or ultrasound/contrast study if concerned about an obstruction ## Footnote This is necessary to rule out functional ileus or partial obstruction.
33
How can the normal caecum in dogs be mistaken?
It can be mistaken for dilated small intestine ## Footnote Location and content are key to differentiation.
34
What is the typical content of a dog's caecum?
Usually gas-filled, can contain faeces or fluid if D+ ## Footnote The content may vary based on the dog's condition.
35
In cats, how is the caecum typically observed on radiographs?
It is empty and not seen ## Footnote The caecum is not routinely assessed in cats.
36
What shape is the colon in the VD view?
Question mark shaped ## Footnote This shape helps in identifying the colon's position.
37
What is the significance of the pelvic inlet when assessing the colon?
It is the best place to find the colon ## Footnote The colon can be easily seen at this location.
38
What should be assessed in the caudal abdomen?
Sublumbar lymph nodes, colon, uterus/uterine stump, bladder, prostate ## Footnote This assessment helps in evaluating the abdominal organs.
39
What is the difference in visibility of the spleen between cats and dogs?
In cats the head of the spleen can be more difficult to see; the tail of the spleen should not be seen in cats ## Footnote The spleen's visibility can indicate various conditions.
40
What can cause splenomegaly in cats?
Sedation, particularly Acepromazine ## Footnote Splenomegaly is more commonly associated with neoplasia and lymphoma.
41
What is the maximum time for liquid to empty from the stomach?
2 hours ## Footnote Ingesta can remain for up to 3 days.
42
What happens to the pylorus when a dog is rolled into left lateral projection?
It becomes gas opacity as gas floats up into it ## Footnote This change allows for assessment of pyloric outflow obstruction.
43
What is the normal position of the pylorus on cats?
Pylorus is more caudal so it is 45 degrees to spine, not 90 degrees like it is in dogs Pylorus is on midline, not on the right side as it is in dogs Ventral and midline, further caudal than fundus, to the right of the fundus ## Footnote Understanding pylorus location is crucial for radiographic interpretation.
44
What is the normal width of a cat's spleen?
3-5mm wide ## Footnote The normal size should not be seen on the lateral view.
45
How does the normal stomach size in cats compare to fasting duration?
Should be empty in the cat after fasting for 8 hours; In the dog the fundus should be <3 intercostal spaces wide ## Footnote This is a guideline for assessing stomach contents.
46
What indicates a potential obstruction when assessing the small intestine?
Size greater than 1.5 x the size of the other small intestine (even if normal compared to L5) This increase could indicate a functional ileu, early/partial obstruction or a recent meal ## Footnote This can indicate functional ileus or early obstruction.
47
What is the relationship between the fundus and pylorus in a normal dog?
Fundus is dorsal and left (dogs like fun), pylorus is ventral and right ## Footnote This orientation is important for interpreting radiographs.

Abdominal Diagnostic imaging (11 decks)

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