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.
37 results
Article
Ethylene glycol toxicity
Ethylene glycol toxicity is a type of toxic leukoencephalopathy. Ethylene glycol, best known as a component of antifreeze, has been ingested both deliberately and accidentally, resulting in neurotoxicity and renal failure.
Epidemiology
Ethylene glycol is found in many compounds including antif...
Article
Normal respiratory postmortem changes
Normal respiratory postmortem changes refers to the expected changes seen in the respiratory system and tract with postmortem imaging.
Radiographic features
CT
hypostasis occurs in the lung postmortem and is visible as a hyperdense gradient dependent with gravity which is bilateral and symmet...
Article
Normal postmortem changes in the central nervous system
Normal central nervous system postmortem changes refers to the expected changes seen in the central nervous system with postmortem imaging.
Radiographic features
CT
loss of grey-white matter differentiation 1,2
intracranial and intravascular gas (due to putrefaction) 1,2
hyperdensity of the...
Article
Postmortem changes - musculoskeletal and soft tissue
Musculoskeletal and soft tissue postmortem changes refer to the expected appearances of the musculoskeletal system and soft tissues on postmortem imaging.
Radiographic features
CT
livor mortis can be seen in the dependent soft tissues 1
hypostasis of the dependent muscles
increased attenuat...
Article
Near drowning pulmonary oedema
Near drowning pulmonary oedema is considered an aetiological subtype of non cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. It can occur with both salt water and fresh water near-drowning.
Pathology
It is thought to result from the inhalation of either fresh water or sea water resulting in lung damage and a ven...
Article
Hypostasis
Hypostasis (also called livor mortis) refers to the purplish discolouration of the superficial layers of dependent areas of the skin occurring soon after death. In reality the mechanisms causing hypostasis cause changes in every organ in the body.
Epidemiology
In one study imaging evidence of ...
Article
Decomposition
Decomposition of the human body occurs soon after death and is of relevance to radiology in the fields of postmortem and forensic radiology.
Pathology
Decomposition occurs due to two main processes 1,2:
autolysis: degradation by destructive enzymes released by dying cells in the body
putrefa...
Article
Labelled imaging anatomy cases
This article lists a series of labelled imaging anatomy cases by body region and modality.
Brain
CT head: non-contrast axial
CT head: non-contrast coronal
CT head: non-contrast sagittal
CT head: non-contrast axial with clinical questions
CT head: angiogram axial
CT head: angiogram coronal...
Article
Buckle rib fracture
Buckle rib fractures are incomplete fractures involving only the inner cortex. They typically occur due to an anterior compressive force to the chest, most commonly during external cardiac massage, but can be seen following any such traumatic injury.
Pathology
Buckle rib fractures occur in all...
Article
Splenic trauma
Splenic trauma can occur after blunt or penetrating trauma or secondary to medical intervention (i.e. iatrogenic). The spleen is the most frequently injured internal organ after blunt trauma.
Epidemiology
In blunt trauma, the spleen can account for up to 49% of abdominal organ injuries 2.
Cli...
Article
Cyanide poisoning
Cyanide poisoning is a cause of an acute anoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy that also has eventual chronic sequelae.
Epidemiology
Acute cyanide poisoning is rare and often occurs after oral ingestion of cyanide-containing compounds with suicidal intent. However, there are other non-intentional c...
Article
Rib fractures (NAI)
Rib fractures in non-accidental injury are a relatively common mode of presentation in inflicted non-accidental injury.
In the context of a child with normal bones, rib fractures are always concerning for non-accidental injury 1 and appropriate clinical assessment should be made. This will usua...
Article
Penetrating thoracic trauma
Penetrating thoracic trauma, namely gunshot and stab injuries, vary widely in incidence globally but nevertheless result in high mortality and serious morbidity. CT is the modality of choice in imaging these patients and can reduce the need for surgical exploration.
For a description of ballis...
Article
Drowning (postmortem findings)
Drowning is one of the most prevalent causes of non-natural death with typical postmortem imaging findings. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 360,000 annual deaths occur due to drowning.
This article concerns itself with postmortem appearances in fatalities from dro...
Article
Pancreatic trauma
The pancreas is uncommonly injured in blunt trauma. However, pancreatic trauma has a high morbidity and mortality rate.
Epidemiology
The pancreas is injured in ~7.5% (range 2-13%) of blunt trauma cases 1,3,7. Motor vehicle accidents account for the vast majority of cases. Penetrating trauma co...
Article
Taphonomy
Taphonomy is the study of death, decay and fossilization. A subdiscipline of paleontology essentially examining the train of events and processes of fossilization. It includes the study of soft tissue decay/degradation, skeletal separation and chemical changes post burial.
Whilst encompassing ...
Article
Liver trauma
The liver is one of the most frequently damaged organs in blunt trauma, and liver trauma is associated with a significant mortality rate.
Epidemiology
In blunt abdominal trauma, the liver is injured ~5% (range 1-10%) of the time 1,3.
Clinical presentation
Patients can present with right uppe...
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.