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 edited by countless contributing members over a period of time. A global group of dedicated editors oversee accuracy, consulting with expert advisers, and constantly reviewing additions.
782 results found
Article
Gibbus deformity
A gibbus deformity is a short-segment structural thoracolumbar kyphosis resulting in sharp angulation.
Pathology
Etiology
There are a number of causes which can be divided into congenital and acquired.
Congenital
achondroplasia
cretinism (congenital hypothyroidism)
Apert syndrome
Coffin-...
Article
Glenohumeral instability
Glenohumeral instability is the tendency of the glenohumeral joint to sublux or dislocate due to loss of its normal functional or anatomical stabilizers.
Clinical presentation
Glenohumeral instability can be divided into:
static
lack of alignment at rest position, which can be depicted using...
Article
Gracile bones
Gracile bones refer to changes in the skeleton in which the bones are more slender than usual (over-tubulated) and occasionally deformed in other ways such as being abnormally curved. This may occur in a number of disorders and can occur with or without fractures.
Pathology
Etiology
neurofibr...
Article
Granular mucosal pattern of the esophagus (differential)
Granular mucosal pattern of the esophagus represents very fine nodularity of the esophageal mucosal surface. This finding is non-specific and may represent:
reflux esophagitis (most common)
Candida esophagitis
glycogenic acanthosis
Barrett esophagus
superficial spreading esophageal carcinom...
Article
Granulomatous lung disease
Granulomatous lung disease refers to a broad group of infectious and non-infectious conditions characterized by the formation of granulomas. The spectrum includes:
infectious
mycobacterial
pulmonary tuberculosis
pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection
fungal
pulmonary coccidioido...
Article
Ground-glass opacification
Ground-glass opacification/opacity (GGO) is a descriptive term referring to an area of increased attenuation in the lung on computed tomography (CT) with preserved bronchial and vascular markings. It is a non-specific sign with a wide etiology including infection, chronic interstitial disease an...
Article
Grouped calcifications
The term grouped calcifications is used in mammography when relatively few breast microcalcifications reside within a small area. There must be at least five calcifications present within 1 cm of each other 3. At the most, it may refer to a larger number of calcifications present within 2 cm of ...
Article
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia refers to a benign excess of the male breast tissue, that is usually reversible. It is not a risk factor per se for developing male breast cancer.
Epidemiology
While it can occur at any age, it tends to have greater prevalence in two groups: adolescent boys and older men (some pub...
Article
Gyral enhancement
Gyral enhancement, also known as gyriform, cortical, or grey matter enhancement, is a pattern of contrast enhancement in the superficial brain parenchyma that conforms to the serpentine morphology of the cerebral gyri. It should be distinguished from leptomeningeal enhancement, which is also ser...
Article
Hemobilia
Hemobilia refers to the presence of blood in the biliary tree.
Clinical presentation
The classical clinical triad, only seen in ~50% of cases, consists of:
melena (i.e. upper gastrointestinal bleeding)
jaundice
abdominal pain
Pathology
Etiology
iatrogenic: surgical or percutaneous proced...
Article
Hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. This may happen either intravascularly or extravascularly.
Clinical presentation
The patient presents with anemia and jaundice. Diagnosis is based on several laboratory parameters 1:
ret...
Article
Hemopericardium
Hemopericardium refers to the presence of blood within the pericardial cavity, i.e. a sanguineous pericardial effusion. If enough blood enters the pericardial cavity, then a potentially fatal cardiac tamponade can occur.
Pathology
Etiology
There is a very long list of causes 1,4 but some of ...
Article
Hemoperitoneum
Hemoperitoneum (plural: haemoperitoneums) is the presence of blood within the peritoneal cavity.
Pathology
Etiology
penetrating or non-penetrating abdominal trauma (often with associated organ injury) 1
ruptured ectopic pregnancy
ovarian cyst rupture
aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm rupture
neo...
Article
Hemopneumothorax
A hemopneumothorax (plural: hemopneumothoraces) (or, less commonly, haematopneumothorax or pneumohemothorax) is a term given when there is concurrent presence of a hemothorax and pneumothorax. It is a variant of a hydropneumothorax.
Epidemiology
Approximately 5% of patients with pneumothorax ...
Article
Hemoptysis
Hemoptysis (plural: hemoptyses) refers to coughing up of blood. Generally, it appears bright red in color as opposed to blood from the gastrointestinal tract which appears dark red. It is considered an alarming sign of a serious underlying etiology.
Terminology
Massive hemoptysis is referred t...
Article
Hemorrhagic intracranial metastases
Hemorrhagic intracranial metastases are considered to represent between 3-14% of all cerebral metastases (cf. 1-3% of gliomas are hemorrhagic).
These classically originate from:
melanoma
renal cell carcinoma
choriocarcinoma
thyroid carcinoma: papillary carcinoma of the thyroid has the highe...
Article
Hemothorax
A hemothorax (plural: hemothoraces), or rarely hematothorax, literally means blood within the chest, is a term usually used to describe a pleural effusion due to accumulation of blood. If a hemothorax occurs concurrently with a pneumothorax it is then termed a hemopneumothorax.
A tension hemot...
Article
Hemithoracic volume loss (differential)
Hemithoracic volume loss can occur from a number situations
These include
Congenital
pulmonary hypoplasia (unilateral)
isolated unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis
skeletal deformities - e.g. kyphosis,
Acquired
Infection in childhood
Swyer-James syndrome
Other infective - inflammat...
Article
Hemithorax white-out (differential)
Complete white-out of a hemithorax on the chest x-ray has a limited number of causes. The differential diagnosis can be shortened further with one simple observation: the position of the trachea. Is it central, pulled or pushed from the side of opacification? Is there pulmonary volume loss or vo...
Article
Hepatic attenuation on CT
Hepatic attenuation on CT, reflected by Hounsfield values, depends on a combination of factors including the presence or absence, as well as the phase, of IV contrast administration.
Allowing for all these factors, the mean unenhanced attenuation value is around 55 HU 4.
Pathology
Several int...
Article
Hepatic capsular retraction
Hepatic capsular retraction is an uncommon finding that is defined as loss of the normal liver contour due to focal flattening/irregularity or concavity. It is related to several benign and malignant pathologies.
Differential diagnosis
The list of differential diagnoses associated with hepatic...
Article
Hepatosplenomegaly
Hepatosplenomegaly is simply the simultaneous presence of a pathologically-enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) and spleen (splenomegaly).
Pathology
Etiology
Infection
Many, many infections can produce a mild concurrent enlargement of the liver and spleen. This list is by no means exhaustive!
vira...
Article
Heterogeneous thyroid echotexture
Heterogeneous echogenicity of the thyroid gland is a non-specific finding and is associated with conditions diffusely affecting the thyroid gland. These include:
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Graves disease
Article
High attenuation lymphadenopathy
High attenuation lymphadenopathy (or adenopathy) variably refers to abnormal lymph nodes with attenuation on CT usually higher compared to muscle, either on a noncontrast exam or following contrast administration (i.e., hyperenhancement) 5.
High attenuation nodes may be due to calcifications or...
Article
High bone mineral density
A high bone mineral density is one where the bone mineral density (BMD) is usually greater than two standard deviations above what is expected for age. This can sometimes be seen on routine DXA scan assessment. Some authors advocate a definition of a high BMD where the Z-score is >+2.5 to highli...
Article
High riding shoulder
A high-riding shoulder refers to the superior displacement/subluxation of the humeral head with resultant decrease in the acromiohumeral distance.
The differential for a high-riding shoulder is:
rotator cuff tear with or without rotator cuff arthropathy
rheumatoid arthritis
CPPD
Article
High risk breast lesion
The term high-risk breast lesion is given to a breast lesion that carries an increased risk for the future development of breast cancer or carries suspicion of a more sinister pathology around or in association with the lesion. The term has some overlap with borderline breast disease. Many radio...
Article
High-risk pregnancy
High-risk pregnancies are any that actually or potentially threaten either the health or life of the mother or her fetus during pregnancy, labor, or birth. From a radiological perspective, high-risk pregnancies may undergo further screening or have close follow-up with growth and well-being scan...
Article
HIV/AIDS (cardiovascular manifestations)
Cardiovascular manifestations are seen with increased frequency in the HIV/AIDS adult population, and include:
pericardial effusions
dilated cardiomyopathy (prevalence 8-30%)
endocarditis: either infective or non-bacterial thrombotic (marantic) which is associated with malignancy or HIV wasti...
Article
HIV/AIDS (CNS manifestations)
The CNS manifestations of HIV/AIDS (neuroAIDS) occur secondary to a wide range of neurodegenerative, infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic processes.
Epidemiology
Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996, there has been a shift in the epidemiology of CN...
Article
HIV/AIDS: gastrointestinal manifestations
Gastrointestinal manifestations of AIDS are protean and can be broadly divided into opportunistic infections and tumors:
Infections
viral
cytomegalovirus (CMV)
herpes simplex virus (HSV)
primary infection with HIV
fungal
candidiasis
histoplasmosis
bacterial
tuberculosis
mycobacterium...
Article
HIV/AIDS (genitourinary manifestations)
Genitourinary manifestations of HIV/AIDS are protean and can be divided into:
HIV-associated nephropathy
renal diseases related to opportunistic infections: CMV, tuberculosis and MAC infections, fungal infections, pneumocystis carinii infection
drug-related renal diseases:
indinavir-induced ...
Article
HIV/AIDS (musculoskeletal manifestations)
Musculoskeletal manifestations of HIV/AIDS are not as common as CNS or pulmonary complications. Nonetheless, their prevalence is high.
Depending on the condition, etiology may be related to the HIV infection itself, the resultant immunodeficiency, or antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
Infection
...
Article
HIV associated neoplasms
HIV-associated neoplasms are numerous and can be broadly divided into two groups:
AIDS-defining malignancies
associated but not AIDS defining malignancies
AIDS-defining malignancies
The development of these malignancies in HIV affected individuals generally implies progression to AIDS 4:
Ka...
Article
Holocord presentation
Holocord presentation refers to a process which involves the spinal cord, from cervicomedullary junction to the tip of the conus. It does not relate to a specific condition nor does it distinguish between involvement by cystic expansion or solid tumor, or by a combination of both. It merely deno...
Article
Hydrocephalus versus atrophy
Distinguishing primary hydrocephalus from atrophy resulting in compensatory enlargement of the CSF spaces as the cause of ventriculomegaly can be, at times, challenging in image interpretation.
Radiographic features
Features that favor hydrocephalus include:
dilatation of the temporal horns
...
Article
Hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis (plural: hydronephroses) is defined as dilatation of the urinary collecting system of the kidney (the calyces, the infundibula, and the pelvis) 1.
Hydronephrosis in fetuses and newborns has specific causes that are covered in a separate article.
Terminology
The term hydroureter...
Article
Hydroxyapatite deposition disease
Hydroxyapatite crystal deposition disease (HADD) is a disease of uncertain etiology characterized by periarticular and intra-articular deposition of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals.
The shoulder is the most frequently involved site with classic calcific tendinitis presentation.
Epidemiology
HA...
Article
Hyperattenuating cerebral metastases
Hyperattenuating cerebral metastases on CT can be due to hemorrhage, calcium, or highly cellular tumors.
Differential diagnosis
There is overlap between the entities, with some cerebral metastases appearing in more than one list 1-6:
hemorrhagic cerebral metastases (mnemonic)
malignant mela...
Article
Hyperattenuating paranasal sinus opacification
Hyperattenuating paranasal sinus opacification can arise in a number of situations:
fungal sinus disease
inspissated secretions
acute hemorrhage into sinus (hemosinus)
Differential diagnosis
In some situations can consider early calcification within the sinus - intrasinus calcification.
Article
Hyperattenuating pulmonary abnormalities
Hyperattenuating pulmonary abnormalities refer to lung parenchymal opacities/lesions that are generally higher attenuation on CT than most soft tissues. An exact definition is usually not provided 1-3, while some authors focus on abnormalities that are as subjectively opaque as bony structures 4...
Article
Hyperattenuating pulmonary consolidation
Hyperattenuating pulmonary consolidation refers to a region of lung parenchyma with air space opacification that has higher attenuation on CT than muscle or than expected with typical causes of consolidation such as pneumonia (fluid attenuation) or cancer (soft tissue attenuation).
The differen...
Article
Hyperattenuating pulmonary mass lesion
There are only a few causes of a hyperattenuating pulmonary mass which can be often due to internal calcification. They include:
granuloma: most common
pulmonary hamartoma
bronchogenic carcinoma
carcinoid tumors
pulmonary metastases
mucoid calcification of mucinous adenocarcinoma
breast ...
Article
Hyperdense pulmonary nodules
Hyperdense pulmonary nodules are a subset of pulmonary nodules that have relatively increased attenuation, usually caused by calcification within the nodule. Here, we broadly refer to a nodule as a pulmonary opacity <30 mm.
Differential diagnosis
calcified pulmonary nodules are a specific grou...
Article
Hyperechoic breast lesions
There are a number of lesions that appear hyperechoic on ultrasound. Such lesions can be either completely or partly hyperechoic and include both benign and malignant entities.
Benign
fat containing breast lesions
lipoma of the breast
fibroadenolipoma (hamartoma) of the breast
focal regions...
Article
Hyperostosis of the skull (differential)
Hyperostosis of the skull has many causes, broadly divided into focal or diffuse.
Diffuse
Paget disease of bone
metastatic disease, especially prostate carcinoma
chronic, severe anemia
hyperparathyroidism
acromegaly
osteopetrosis
hyperostosis frontalis interna
long-term phenytoin use
g...
Article
Hyperreninaemic hypertension (differential)
Hyperreninaemic hypertension may have many causes including:
renal artery stenosis
renal secreting tumor, e.g. renal cell carcinoma, reninoma
renal compression: large renal mass, subcapsular hemorrhage (Page kidney)
Article
Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy
Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HPOA) is a syndrome characterized by periosteal reaction of the long bones without underlying bone lesion. There are a broad range of manifestations, although typically there is symmetrical involvement of the appendicular skeleton. Accompanying abnormal soft tissue...
Article
Hypertrophy of the caudate lobe
Hypertrophy of the caudate lobe is seen in a number of conditions, including:
cirrhosis: most common
Budd-Chiari syndrome
primary sclerosing cholangitis (end stage)
congenital hepatic fibrosis
cavernous transformation of the portal vein
Radiographic features
The caudate-right lobe ratio m...
Article
Hypervascular liver lesions
Hypervascular liver lesions may be caused by primary liver pathology or metastatic disease.
Differential diagnosis
Primary lesions
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
most common hypervascular primary liver malignancy
early arterial phase enhancement and then rapid wash out
rim enhancement of c...
Article
Hypervascular metastases
There are several tumors which are noted to cause hypervascular metastases. The list of differential diagnoses includes:
renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
breast cancer: homogeneously hypervascular liver metastases from breast are considered rare 3
lung cancer
neuroendocrine tumors
carcinoid tumor...
Article
Hypervascular pancreatic lesions
Hypervascular pancreatic lesions may be caused by a broad range of pathologies.
anatomical variants
intrapancreatic accessory spleen: should not be overdiagnosed as a malignant tumor
peripancreatic vascular anomalies
arterial aneurysm 1
involves the pancreaticoduodenal and /or gastroduoden...
Article
Hypoglobus
Hypoglobus refers to the inferior displacement of the globe in the orbit. It may or may not be associated with enophthalmos.
Causes include:
fracture of the orbital floor (most common)
silent sinus syndrome
orbital masses
orbital foreign bodies
thyroid ophthalmopathy
Article
Hypomyelinating disorders
Hypomyelinating disorders are a heterogeneous subset of white matter disorders characterized by abnormally low amounts of myelination.
In distinction to other myelin disorders, hypomyelination is a permanent deficiency in myelin deposition rather than myelin destruction (i.e. demyelination) or ...
Article
Hypotelorism
Hypotelorism refers to an abnormal decrease in distance between any two organs although some authors use the term synonymously with orbital hypotelorism meaning an abnormal decrease in the distance between the two eyes (the eyes appear too close together). The article mainly focuses on the latte...
Article
Hypothalamic lesions
Hypothalamic lesions are numerous representing some entities that are unique to the hypothalamus, as well as many lesions that can be seen elsewhere within the brain. Additionally, due to its proximity to the optic chiasm, third ventricle and pituitary region, many lesions of these locations can...
Article
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias
The idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) are diffuse interstitial lung diseases of unknown cause. They are characterized by cellular infiltration of the interstitial compartment of the lung with varying degrees of inflammation and fibrosis.
Classification
Over the years many attempts have...
Article
Iliac vein occlusion
Iliac vein occlusion can be due to a variety of causes including:
iatrogenic
neonatal catheters
catheter dissection injuries
IVC filter insertion
dialysis catheters
malignancy-related
direct tumor invasion
radiotherapy
enlarged lymph nodes
hypercoagulable state
prior DVTs
May-Thrun...
Article
Incomplete border sign (chest)
The incomplete border sign is useful to depict an extrapulmonary mass on chest radiograph.
An extrapulmonary mass will often have an inner well-defined border and an ill-defined outer margin 1-3. This can be attributed to the inner margin being tangential to the x-ray beam and has good inherent...
Article
Increased bone age
A generalized acceleration in bone maturation can result from a number of etiological factors. They include:
endocrine disorders
idiopathic isosexual precocious puberty
hypothalamic or parathalamic lesion with sexual precocity: e.g.
craniopharyngioma
astrocytoma
hypothalamic hamartoma
hyp...
Article
Increased heel pad thickness (mnemonic)
A mnemonic that can be used to remember the causes of increased heel pad thickness is:
MAD COP
Mnemonic
M: myxedema
A: acromegaly
D: phenytoin therapy
C: callus
O: obesity
P: peripheral edema
Article
Increased renal echogenicity
Increased renal echogenicity is a non-specific finding but can represent a number of underlying conditions.
These include:
normal variation
renal amyloidosis
chronic kidney disease: increased cortical echogenicity
sickle cell disease 4
See also
echogenic renal pyramids - pediatric
renal ...
Article
Infertility in the exam
It is important to have a systematic way of approaching a case with subfertility in the exam.
Ultrasound is the initial examination of choice. Always say that you would further assess the uterus with 3D ultrasound. You may also say that in my department we would perform a sonohysterogram or HS...
Article
Interstitial lung disease
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an umbrella term that encompasses a large number of disorders that are characterized by diffuse cellular infiltrates in a periacinar location. The spectrum of conditions included is broad, ranging from occasional self-limited inflammatory processes to severe de...
Article
Interstitial lung pattern (radiograph)
An interstitial lung pattern is a regular descriptive term used when reporting a plain chest radiograph. It is the result of the age-old attempt to make the distinction between an interstitial and airspace (alveolar) process to narrow the differential diagnosis.
A re-read of the timeless work o...
Article
Intervertebral disc calcification
Intervertebral disc calcification is a non-specific finding seen in numerous conditions.
Epidemiology
It may be observed in pediatric 5 as well as adult populations.
Pathology
Etiology
degenerative: relatively common and may occur in up to 6% of routine abdominal radiographs in adults
post...
Article
Intestinal failure
Intestinal failure is when a patient's native bowel is unable to digest and absorb the food, electrolytes, and fluids needed for normal growth and development.
Clinical presentation
This often includes intractable diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and malnutrition.
P...
Article
Intra-abdominal calcification
Intra-abdominal calcification is common and the causes may be classified into four broad groups based on morphology:
Concretions
These are discrete precipitates in a vessel or organ. They are sharp in outline but the density and shape vary but in some cases, they may be virtually pathognomonic...
Article
Intra-abdominal calcification (neonatal)
Intra-abdominal calcification in a neonate can be caused by a number of pathologies that cause calcification within the peritoneal space or within organs.
Pathology
Etiology
Meconium peritonitis
The commonest cause is meconium peritonitis which is the result of aseptic peritonitis secondary ...
Article
Intra-articular gas
Intra-articular gas or air (pneumarthrosis) can occur from a number of varied pathologies and should be interpreted according to the clinical context.
Causes include
trauma
compound injury with gas entering from the outer surface
can occur in with a pneumolipohaemarthrosis
surgical intra-a...
Article
Intraconal orbital lesions
Intraconal orbital lesions are broadly divided into two main groups; those with or without involvement of the optic nerves:
Lesions with optic nerve involvement:
optic nerve glioma
optic nerve meningioma
optic neuritis
pseudotumor
lymphoma and leukemia
intracranial hypertension
retinobla...
Article
Intracranial arterial beading
Intracranial arterial beading represents alternating areas of constriction in the intracranial arteries that gives the appearance of beads strung together.
Differential diagnosis
The various conditions where this may be seen are:
cerebral vasculitis
radiation therapy
cerebral vasospasm post...
Article
Intracranial cystic lesions in the perinatal period
Intracranial cystic lesions in the perinatal period can carry a relatively wide differential which includes:
Supratentorial cystic lesions
cysts
arachnoid cyst
choroid plexus cyst
connatal cyst
holoprosencephaly
multicystic encephalomalacia
periventricular leukomalacia
porencephalic cys...
Article
Intracranial lesions which show high signal on DWI
The following intracranial lesions may show high signal on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI):
lesions with intense high signal
acute ischemia
meningiomas
abscess
empyema
cytotoxic cerebral edema
chordoma
intracranial epidermoid cyst
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 6
lesions with variable or m...
Article
Intracranial metastases
Intracranial metastases from non-CNS primary neoplasms are becoming more common due to significant advances in cancer treatment over the last few decades. Increasing numbers of patients live longer and present with metastasis in locations considered unusual previously:
brain (parenchymal) metas...
Article
Intracranial tumors with calcification
A variety of intracranial tumors exhibit different forms of calcification. Some lesions commonly show calcification while in some tumors, calcification is seen only in few number of cases. In this article these tumors are classified on the basis of frequency of calcification.
Commonly calcified...
Article
Intradural extramedullary spinal tumors
Intradural extramedullary neoplasms are located outside the spinal cord but within the dural sheath.
Epidemiology
The majority (70-80%) of spinal canal tumors are intradural extramedullary 1.
Clinical presentation
Patients present with signs and symptoms of spinal cord or nerve root compres...
Article
Intrahepatic arteriovenous shunt
Intrahepatic arteriovenous shunts, also referred to as intrahepatic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or hepatic arteriosystemic venous shunts, represent a spectrum of abnormal communications between the hepatic arterial system and the hepatic veins.
Please note that arterioportal shunts, whi...
Article
Intralobular septal thickening
Intralobular septal thickening is a form of interstitial thickening and should be distinguished from interlobular septal thickening. It is often seen as fine linear or reticular thickening.
It has been described with several conditions of variable etiology which include
sarcoidosis 2
asbestos...
Article
Intraosseous gas
Intraosseous gas, also known as osseous pneumatosis, refers to the accumulation of gas bubbles within the cortical bone, trabecular bone, the bone marrow, or in the medullary cavity.
Intraosseous gas is an uncommon finding and differentials include 1,2:
infections
emphysematous osteomyelitis...
Article
Intrapancreatic accessory spleen
An intrapancreatic accessory spleen is a splenunculus within the pancreatic parenchyma.
Differentiating this finding from other pancreatic neoplasms is important to avoid unnecessary surgery.
Epidemiology
Intrapancreatic splenunculi are not as rare as previously thought and their incidence ra...
Article
Intrapancreatic gas
The presence of gas in the pancreatic gland and/or the pancreatic ducts is an uncommon finding.
Pathology
Etiology
Causes of gas in the pancreatic ducts
altered function and/or anatomy of the sphincter of Oddi: causes duodenal-pancreatic duct reflux
patulous pancreatic duct opening 2
papi...
Article
Intrasinus calcification
Intrasinus calcification is a phenomenon whereby calcification is formed within the paranasal sinuses. It can occur to varying extents, therefore leading to varying degrees of attenuation on CT. Such calcification may occur either concurrently within an opacified sinus or in an aerated sinus, de...
Article
Intraventricular metastases
Intraventricular metastases are a very rare finding. A few intracranial tumors and some extracranial tumors metastasize to the ventricles. The most common site of intraventricular metastasis is the trigone of the lateral ventricles due to high vascularity of the choroid plexuses. The next most c...
Article
Intraventricular neoplasms and lesions
Intraventricular neoplasms are rare and arise from periventricular structures such as the walls of the ventricular system, the septum pellucidum and the choroid plexus. Many tumor types arise from or can bulge into the ventricular system, although there are certain lesions that are relatively re...
Article
Isolated diffuse ground-glass opacification
Isolated diffuse ground-glass opacification/opacity (GGO) has a relatively well-defined differential diagnosis although this remains broad and clinical correlation, like many respiratory diseases, is key to diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis
Miller et al. have described the following different...
Article
Joint ankylosis (differential)
Joint ankylosis has a relatively broad differential including 1-5:
psoriatic arthritis
ankylosing spondylitis
chronic reactive arthritis
juvenile idiopathic arthritis
surgical ankylosis (arthrodesis)
septic arthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
fluorosis
ochronosis
coalition, e.g. tarsal, c...
Article
J-shaped sella
A J-shaped sella is a variant morphology of the sella turcica, whereby the tuberculum sellae is flattened, thus forming the straight edge of the "J". The dorsum sellae remains rounded and forms the loop of the "J".
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis for a J-shaped sella includes 1,2...
Article
Jugular fossa masses
Jugular fossa masses comprise a range of pathological lesions that arise from or extend into the jugular fossa in the skull base. Although not a common location for tumors it is not unusual for jugular fossa lesions to be discovered incidentally on cross-sectional imaging.
Terminology
Although...
Article
Juvenile osteoporosis
Juvenile osteoporosis refers to osteoporosis occurring in children.
Pathology
Etiology
It can arise from a number of causes 1-4:
primary conditions
osteogenesis imperfecta
Bruck syndrome
osteoporosis pseudoglioma syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Marfan syndrome
homocystinuria
secondary...
Article
Lacrimal gland masses
Lacrimal gland masses can be classified into two broad groups - inflammatory (~50%) and neoplastic, either lymphoma (25%) or salivary gland type tumors (~25%).
Pathology
Inflammatory
sarcoidosis
affects ~25% of patients with systemic disease
orbital inflammatory pseudotumor
lacrimal glan...
Article
Lacrimal sac mass
Lacrimal sac masses are very uncommon and more commonly have a malignant (~80%) rather than benign (~20%) etiology.
Pathology
Etiology
inflammatory
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
sarcoidosis
orbital pseudotumor
IgG4-related disease
Sjogren syndrome
neoplastic
epithelial tumors
beni...
Article
Large unilateral pleural effusion
When a pleural effusion is large and unilateral, concern for an underlying abnormality should be raised. Causes include:
tumor
bronchogenic carcinoma
mesothelioma
pleural metastases
lymphoma
pleural lymphoma
primary effusion lymphoma
infection
parapneumonic effusion
empyema
extension ...