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.
More than 200 results
Article
Erosion of the odontoid process (differential)
Erosion of the odontoid peg can result from a number of pathological entities:
inflammatory arthropathy
rheumatoid arthritis: classic 1,2
systemic lupus erythematosus
crystal arthropathy
calcium pyrophosphate arthropathy (CPPD): relatively common
gout
non-inflammatory arthropathy: osteoar...
Article
Differential diagnosis of vascular calcification
The differential diagnosis of vascular calcification is very wide with many common and uncommon conditions.
Differential diagnosis
Common
aneurysm
atherosclerosis
end-stage renal failure 3
hemangioma; arteriovenous malformation
hyperparathyroidism, primary or secondary (renal osteodystrop...
Article
Fibrous lesions
The differential for fibrous lesions is wide and includes:
non-ossifying fibroma
fibrous dysplasia
osteofibrous dysplasia / adamantinoma
desmoplastic fibroma
fibromatoses, e.g.
plantar fibromatosis
palmar fibromatosis
malignant fibrous histiocytoma / fibrosarcoma
dermatofibrosarcoma p...
Article
Conditions involving skin and bone
There are many conditions that can involve both skin and bone.
osteolytic bone lesions
congenital
neurofibromatosis
basal cell nevus syndrome
angiodysplasias
acquired
scleroderma
rheumatoid arthritis
gout
leprosy
syphilis
actinomycosis
langerhans cell histiocytosis
sarcoidosis
mas...
Article
Generalized reduced hepatic echogenicity
Causes of generalized reduction of liver echogenicity on ultrasound include:
acute hepatitis
diffuse malignant infiltration
See also
generalized increase in liver echogenicity
hepatic attenuation on CT
Article
Salivary gland tumors
Salivary gland tumors are variable in location, origin, and malignant potential.
Pathology
In general, the ratio of benign to malignant tumors is proportional to the gland size; i.e. the parotid gland tends to have benign neoplasms, the submandibular gland 50:50, and the sublingual glands and...
Article
Cyanotic congenital heart disease
A number of entities can present as cyanotic congenital heart disease. These can be divided into those with increased (pulmonary plethora) or decreased pulmonary vascularity:
increased pulmonary vascularity
total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) (types I and II)
transposition of the ...
Article
Cystic lung disease
Cystic lung disease is an umbrella term used to group the conditions coursing with multiple lung cysts.
Clinical presentation
The clinical presentation is an important clue to the differential diagnosis of cystic lung diseases 12.
Diseases that present with insidious dyspnea or spontaneous p...
Article
Spinal metastasis
Spinal metastasis is a vague term that can be variably taken to refer to metastatic disease to any of the following:
vertebral metastases (94%)
may have epidural extension
intradural extramedullary metastases (5%)
intramedullary metastases (1%)
Each of these are discussed separately. Below ...
Article
Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs)
Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs) represent a collection of disparate conditions that can cause signal change in the corpus callosum, usually involving the splenium.
Terminology
The term cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs) has been proposed 12 as a more precise d...
Article
Miliary opacities (lungs)
The term miliary opacities refers to innumerable, small 1-4 mm pulmonary nodules scattered throughout the lungs. It is useful to divide these patients into those who are febrile and those who are not.
Additionally, some miliary opacities are very dense, narrowing the differential - see multiple...
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
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (differential)
An upper gastrointestinal bleed usually refers to bleeding proximal to the ligament of Treitz.
Pathology
Aetiolology
peptic ulcer
gastritis
esophagitis
duodenitis
Mallory-Weiss tear
varices
tumor
vascular abnormality
vascular ectasia
angiodysplasia
Dieulafoy lesion
vascular malform...
Article
Breast density
Breast density refers to the amount of fibroglandular tissue in a breast relative to fat. It can significantly vary between individuals and within individuals over a lifetime.
Classification
There are four descriptors for breast density on mammography in the 5th edition of BI-RADS 1,2:
a: the...
Article
Pneumatocele
Pneumatoceles are intrapulmonary gas-filled cystic spaces that can have a variety of sizes and appearances. They usually occur as a result of pneumonia or in neonates as the result of a ventilator-induced lung injury. They should not be mistaken for a cavitating lung mass.
Epidemiology
Althou...
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
Temporal bone destructive lesions (differential)
Destructive lesions of the temporal bone (petrous pyramid, middle ear and antrum) have a relatively broad differential including 1:
lesions affecting petrous pyramid
vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma)
meningioma
glioma
neuroma of trigeminal and facial nerve
chordoma
jugular paragang...
Article
Cystic breast mass
A cystic breast mass is a mass that contains both solid and fluid components. This can occur from both benign and malignant causes.
Benign
complex breast hematoma
complex breast abscess
breast cyst with associated inflammation and hemorrhage
galactocoele
fibrocystic changes and oil cysts 2...
Article
Urinary bladder wall or lumen calcification (differential)
Causes of urinary bladder wall or lumen calcification include:
Common
bladder calculus
schistosomiasis of the urinary tract
tuberculosis
Uncommon
neuroblastoma; pheochromocytoma
radiation reaction
alkaptonuria (ochronosis)
amyloidosis
calculus in a urachal cyst or in a bladder divertic...
Article
Amorphous calcifications (breast)
Amorphous calcifications, previously known as indistinct calcifications, are a morphological descriptor for breast calcifications that are small and/or hazy such that no clearly defined shape/form can be ascribed.
Pathology
Many benign and malignant conditions may be seen in association with ...
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