Articles
Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.
48 results found
Article
Traumatic abdominal wall hernia
Traumatic abdominal wall hernia describes the traumatic disruption of musculature and fascia of anterior abdominal wall without skin penetration.
Clinical presentation
Abdominal skin ecchymosis or abrasions may be seen.
Pathology
Traumatic abdominal wall hernia is caused by blunt trauma to t...
Article
Small bowel follow-through
Small bowel follow-through is a fluoroscopic technique designed to obtain high-resolution images of the small bowel. The motility of the small bowel can also be grossly evaluated.
Indications
The small bowel follow-through can be useful for the evaluation of:
strictures
obstruction
divertic...
Article
MR enterography
MR enterography (MRE), also known as MRI small bowel study, is a non-invasive technique for the diagnosis of small bowel disorders.
Note: This article is intended to outline some general principles of protocol design. The specifics will vary depending on MRI hardware and software, radiologist's...
Article
Nasogastric tube positioning
Assessment of nasogastric (NG) tube positioning is a key competency of all doctors as unidentified malpositioning may have dire consequences, including death.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
A correctly placed nasogastric tube should 10:
descend in the midline, following the path of ...
Article
Videofluoroscopic swallow study
Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (also often called modified barium swallow studies) are a variation on traditional barium swallow studies. Although typical barium swallow studies / esophagrams evaluate the pharynx, the goal in these studies is to even more closely evaluate the oral cavity, pha...
Article
Abdominal pain in pregnancy protocol (MRI)
The abdominal pain in pregnancy MRI protocol encompasses a set of MRI sequences for assessment of causes of non-traumatic abdominal pain in pregnancy.
Note: This article aims to frame a general concept of an MRI protocol for the assessment of the abdomen in pregnancy. Protocol specifics will va...
Article
Acute non-traumatic abdominal pain in pregnancy
Acute non-traumatic abdominal pain in pregnancy requires a considered imaging approach due to the increased risks of fetal demise associated with undiagnosed diseases such as perforated acute appendicitis. Ultrasound is the first-line modality due to its wide availability and ability to diagnose...
Article
Adrenal washout
Adrenal washout can be calculated using the density value of an adrenal mass on non-enhanced, portal venous phase and 15-minute delayed CT scans (density measured in Hounsfield units (HU)). It is primarily used to diagnose adrenal adenoma.
absolute washout
[(HUportal venous phase) - (HUdelayed...
Article
APPEND score
The APPEND score is a clinical decision rule and predictor of the likelihood of acute appendicitis.
Criteria
Each of the following is worth 1 point 1:
male gender
anorexia
migratory pain
localized peritonism
elevated CRP >15 mg/L
neutrophilia >7.5x109/L
APPEND refers to the mnemonic:
A...
Article
Peritoneal thickening
Peritoneal thickening is a descriptive term given to describe any form of thickening of the peritoneum.
It can occur with both benign and malignant peritoneal disease. It can be classified into various subtypes based on its morphology:
smooth peritoneal thickening
peritonitis
peritoneal car...
Article
Sonographic features of malignant lymph nodes
Lymphadenopathy is quite common, and it can be challenging to differentiate malignant lymphadenopathy from reactive nodal enlargement.
Several gray scale and color Doppler features favor malignancy in a lymph node 1,7-9.
Gray scale parameters that favor malignancy
size: larger - more likely m...
Article
Bronchogenic cyst vs esophageal duplication cyst
Bronchogenic cysts and esophageal duplication cysts are embryological foregut duplication cysts and are also differential diagnoses for a cystic mediastinal mass.
Differences
Symptoms
bronchogenic cysts asymptomatic unless infected
esophageal duplication cysts can present with hemorrha...
Article
Crohn disease vs ulcerative colitis
Due to the overlap in the clinical presentation of Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), imaging often has a role to play in distinguishing the two. Distinguishing features include:
bowel involved
CD: small bowel 70-80%, only 15-20% have only colonic involvement
UC: rectal in...
Article
CT colonography (protocol)
Computed tomographic (CT) colonography, also called CTC, virtual colonoscopy (VC) or CT pneumocolon, is a powerful minimally invasive technique for colorectal cancer screening.
Indications
screening test for colorectal carcinoma
colon evaluation after incomplete or unsuccessful optical (conv...
Article
CT peritoneography
CT peritoneography is an examination used to assess difficulties with peritoneal dialysis.
Indications
Recurrent peritonitis with difficulty with fluid exchange, abdominal wall or genital soft tissue edema, localized bulging of the abdomen, and poor ultrafiltration.
Technique
Before perform...
Article
CT colonography - pitfalls
The interpretation of CT colonography can sometimes be difficult because of pitfalls, which may be a source of false negative and false positive findings. When suboptimal CT colonography techniques are applied, the number and severity of interpretive pitfalls can rapidly multiply. However, when ...
Article
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) scan
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) scan is a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) examination performed at the time of presentation of a trauma patient.
It is invariably performed by a clinician, who should be formally trained, and is considered as an 'extension' of the trauma cl...
Article
Pancreatic ultrasound
Pancreatic ultrasound can be used to assess for pancreatic malignancy, pancreatitis and its complications, as well as for other pancreatic pathology.
Preparation
Fast the patient to reduce interference from overlying bowel gas, which may otherwise make visualization difficult.
Scanning techni...
Article
Rectal MRI (an approach)
Rectal MRI is a key imaging investigation in the diagnosis, staging and follow up of rectal cancer. An increase in the utility of rectal MRI as been driven by the recognition of the mesorectum as a distinct anatomic compartment containing and limiting the margins of the rectum, and forming a sur...
Article
Point-of-care ultrasound (curriculum)
The point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) curriculum is one of our curriculum articles and aims to be a collection of articles that represent the core applications of ultrasonography in a point-of-care setting.
Point-of-care ultrasound refers to ultrasonography which may be simultaneously performed,...
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