Plain Abdominal X-ray Pattern Recognition
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOGRAPHY · NTA LEVEL 4 · SEMESTER TWO Plain Abdominal X-ray Pattern Recognition CRT04211 · Image Pattern Recognition START READING NOTES Study Plain Abdominal X-ray Pattern Recognition using the sections below. Use the topic navigation to continue through Image Pattern Recognition. Contents of This Topic Normal Plain and contrasted radiographic GIT INTRODUCTION NINE ANATOMICAL REGIONS ABDOMINAL QUADRANTS ABDOMINAL ORGANS GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM ORGANS IMAGING CONSIDERATIONS Anteroposterior (AP) projections of the abdomen are generally taken in the supine position. As with other body areas, evaluation of the abdomen should be done systematically. Radiographic findings Plain Abdominal X-ray Pattern Recognition AIR-FLUID LEVEL BOWEL GAS(FREE AIR) Note: In Gastrointestinal System, Some contents of the abdomen can be seen without contrast media. Small bowel on plain x-ray Large bowel Other soft tissues seen on a plain films CONTRASTED INVESTIGATION OF THE GIT ORGAN TO BE INVESTIGATED STOMACH SMALL BOWEL CONGENITAL AND HEREDITARY BOWEL ATRESIA HYPERTROPHIC PYLORIC STENOSIS Abdominal radiography may show gastric distention with HPS. Sonography has become the standard and highly accurate method for diagnosing HPS without the need for radiation exposure. HIRSCHSPRUNG DISEASE (CONGENITAL MECKEL DIVERTICULUM Normal Plain and contrasted radiographic GIT Pattern Recognition INTRODUCTION The abdomen is composed of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and is often divided into nine anatomic regions. NINE ANATOMICAL REGIONS Right hypochondriac Epigastric Left hypochondriac Right lumbar Umbilical Left lumbar Right iliac Hypogastric Left iliac ABDOMINAL QUADRANTS It may also be described in terms of quadrants: Right-upper quadrant (RUQ) Right-lower quadrant (RLQ) Left-upper quadrant (LUQ) Left-lower quadrant (LLQ) ABDOMINAL ORGANS The abdominal cavity contains organs of the digestive system (stomach and intestines), the hepatobiliary system (liver, gallbladder, and pancreas), the urinary system (kidneys and ureters), and the circulatory system (spleen). The pelvic cavity contains the bladder, portions of the intestines,and the reproductive organs. GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM ORGANS A major portion of the gastrointestinal (GI) system is the alimentary tract, which serves to digest and absorb food. Extend from the mouth to Anus the alimentary tract consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel, and rectum. IMAGING CONSIDERATIONS Radiography Abdominal radiography is often performed for survey purposes, without contrast agents. The usual starting point is a supine radiograph taken to include the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (“KUB”). The frequency of abnormal findings on a conventional abdominal radiograph is fairly low and nonspecific, but it is of most value for patients complaining of severe abdominal tenderness and to rule out bowel obstructions and perforations Anteroposterior (AP) projections of the abdomen are generally taken in the supine position. An AP radiograph allows examination of air distribution within the bowels and of the size of the viscera, serves to evaluate vascular and other types of calcifications and body or soft tissue trauma, and, finally, serves as a preliminary radiograph for other procedures. As with other body areas, evaluation of the abdomen should be done systematically. This should include inspection of the renal outlines, ureters, psoas muscles, spleen, liver, gallbladder, and peritoneal fat stripes. Radiographic findings In a normal abdomen, varying amounts of gas and fecal material are always present in an unprepared patient. The liver,kidney, spleen, and psoas muscle shadows are variably outlined because of the lucent layer of fat surrounding them. Properitoneal fat stripes are visible as radiolucencies extending laterally from the costal margins down to the iliac crests. Plain Abdominal X-ray Pattern Recognition The aorta and pancreas are not normally seen unless they are calcified, as might be expected in an older patient in the case of the aorta or in a patient with chronic calcific pancreatitis. AIR-FLUID LEVEL Few, if any, air–fluid levels are present in the normal patient who is radiographed in the erect position. Limited fluid levels in the small bowel and large bowel, however, may be considered normal. Fluid levels are abnormal when they are seen in dilated bowel loops or when they are numerous. In infants and children,gas may be scattered throughout the bowel,but in adults gas is normally seen only in the stomach and colon. BOWEL GAS(FREE AIR) Small bowel gas in an adult, therefore, may indicate a pathologic process. In some patients, gas may be recognizable only on erect radiographs because of the presence of intraluminal fluid. Free air should not be visible in the peritoneal cavity and is indicative of a bowel perforation or other pathologic entities that introduce air into the peritoneum. Plain Abdominal X-ray Pattern Recognition Erect abdominal radiographs must include the diaphragm to assess for free air, and in instances in which the patient is unable to stand, a left lateral decubitus abdomen should be obtained. Note: In Gastrointestinal System, Some contents of the abdomen can be seen without contrast media. However, most of the GI tract cannot be examined directly. Small bowel on plain x-ray The small bowel lies centrally. There should be no more than 3 short air-fluid levels on an erect film. There should only be small amounts of gas in the small bowel. After being swallowed, air reaches the colon within 30 minutes. The jejunum is recognised by valvulae conniventes, folds which traverse the full width of the bowel. The distal ileum is smoother in appearance. Large bowel The large bowel lies peripherally. There may be longer fluid levels and the maximum diameter is variable. The large bowel often contains faeces & has a speckled appearance due to gas trapped in the faeces. The haustra may be outlined by gas. It is quite common to see gas outlining much of the large bowel normally. The haustra can be recognised by the fact that they do not cross the full width of the bowel and they are not regular. Other soft tissues seen on a plain films The bladder may be seen as a soft tissue density arising from the pelvic floor. The stomach is normally outlined with air below the left hemidiaphragm. CONTRASTED INVESTIGATION OF THE GIT Radiographic investigation of the GI system is commonly a combination of fluoroscopy and radiography. Fluoroscopic examination of the GI system requires positive and