Congenital Abnormalities Embryology The pancreas develops in two parts from the endoderm of the primitive duodenum Dorsal part: this is the first part to appear, initially appearing as a diverticulum from the dorsal wall of the duodenum ▸ it forms…
Methods of Investigation Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Technique Heavily T2-weighted coronal oblique fast spin-echo sequence to obtain source data (aligned along the plane of the common bile duct [CBD]) ▪ Stationary water appears as areas of high SI and adjacent…
Anatomy and Imaging Techniques Anatomy Couinaud classification The liver is subdivided anatomically into 8 segments; segments II – VIII are divided anatomically via the portal and hepatic veins The caudate lobe (segment I): this is autonomous, receiving vessels from both…
Ulcerative Colitis and Toxic Megacolon Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Definition A relapsing and remitting inflammatory bowel disease predominantly involving the colorectal mucosa and submucosa ▸ there is symmetrical colonic involvement (cf. asymmetrical Crohn's disease) It always involves the rectum – any…
Crohn's Disease (CD) Crohn's Disease Definition A chronic progressive transmural granulomatous inflammatory bowel disease There are typically discontinuous (‘skip’) lesions with asymmetrical bowel wall involvement It can affect any part of the GI tract – however it almost always affects…
Peptic Ulceration, Gastric Heterotopia, Duodenal Diverticula Peptic Ulceration Definition Mucosal ulceration occurring within an acidic part of the GI tract ▸ it is often associated with H. pylori infection ▸ duodenal ulcers are 2–3x more common than gastric ulcers ▪…
Benign Gastric Ulcers Benign Gastric Ulcers Definition Gastric ulcers penetrate the stomach wall through the mucosa and into the submucosa (and frequently also into the muscularis propria) ▸ 95% are benign and they can also be multiple Causes Helicobacter pylori…
Hiatus Hernia and Reflux Hiatus Hernia Definition Protrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragmatic oesophageal opening ▪ Type 1 – sliding hernia (the commonest type): the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) slides proximally through the diaphragmatic hiatus to assume an…
Conventional Coronary Angiography and Echocardiography Conventional Coronary Angiography This involves the selective injection of contrast medium into the right and left coronary arteries and the left ventricle (while recording the resultant moving images) Being replaced by non-invasive CCT and CMR…
Gastrointestinal Vascular Disorders Mesenteric Haemorrhage Upper gastrointestinal (GI) haemorrhage This is defined as bleeding proximal to the duodenal–jejunal flexure (most commonly from the left gastric artery) Causes: peptic ulceration ▸ pancreatitis ▸ gastro-oesophageal varices ▸ as a complication of endoscopic,…