1 What are the general indications for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pancreas? CT and MRI are commonly used to assess the extent and severity of disease in patients suspected of having pancreatitis, to evaluate…
1 What is the normal CT and MRI appearance of the spleen? The normal spleen has homogeneous soft tissue attenuation on unenhanced CT, usually 5 to 10 HU less than liver, and appears slightly hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on…
1 What are the common indications for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tree? The most common clinical indications include: Characterization of indeterminate hepatic lesions detected on prior cross-sectional imaging. Surveillance of…
1 What are the general indications for routine computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract? General indications for routine abdominopelvic CT or MRI evaluation of the upper GI tract include: Assessment of patients…
1 What is the radiographic appearance of an endotracheal tube (ETT), and where is it optimally placed? An ETT usually appears as a faintly radiopaque tube with a thin, densely radiopaque line along its length, and its position should be…
1 Describe the normal pleural anatomy and physiologic features. The pleural space is a potential space that contains 2 to 10 mL of pleural fluid between the visceral and parietal pleural layers that essentially represents interstitial fluid from the parietal pleura…
1 Describe the anatomy of the mediastinum. The mediastinum is located centrally within the thorax between the pleural cavities laterally, the sternum anteriorly, the spine posteriorly, the thoracic inlet superiorly, and the diaphragm inferiorly. It is usually divided into anterior,…
1 What radiographic features distinguish interstitial diseases from airspace diseases? Two primary characteristics radiographically distinguish interstitial diseases from airspace diseases. First, interstitial diseases displace little of the air within the lung, whereas airspace diseases displace large amounts of air. Interstitial…
1 What is the difference between a pulmonary acinus and a secondary pulmonary lobule? The acinus (Latin for “berry”) is a structural unit of the lung distal to a terminal bronchiole, supplied by first-order respiratory bronchioles, which contains alveolar ducts…
1 What is a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN)? An SPN is a solitary focal lesion in the lung that measures 3 cm or less. A solitary focal lesion that is greater than 3 cm is considered to be a mass, and most…