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.
31 results found
Article
Medical devices in the thorax
Medical devices in the thorax are regularly observed by radiologists when reviewing radiographs and CT scans.
Extrathoracic devices
tubing, clamps, syringes, scissors, lying on or under the patient
rubber sheets, foam mattresses, clothing, hair braids, nipple piercings, etc., may also be visi...
Article
Inferior vena caval contrast reflux
Reflux of contrast into inferior vena cava can be common findings seen on CT. It is considered a specific but insensitive sign of right-sided heart disease / right heart dysfunction at low contrast injection rates although the usefulness decreases with high injection rates.
Conditions associate...
Article
Cerebrovascular malformations
Cerebrovascular malformations are vascular malformations related to the vessels that supply the brain and other cranial structures.
Classification
Over the years, cerebral vascular malformations have been classified in a variety of ways by many authors, often on the basis of the presence or ab...
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
Ascending aorta dilatation
Dilatation of the ascending aorta is a common finding in the elderly but unusual in younger patients.
Pathology
In adults, an ascending aortic diameter greater than 4 cm is considered to indicate dilatation 4. Aneurysmal dilatation is considered when the ascending aortic diameter reaches or ex...
Article
Causes of ascending aorta calcification
There are relatively few causes of calcification of the ascending aorta 1-3:
atherosclerosis (this usually spares the ascending aorta)
aortitis
syphilis
Takayasu arteritis
idiopathic
See also
porcelain aorta
Article
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (differential)
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding usually occurs distal to the ligament of Treitz, and has a wide differential diagnosis:
diverticular disease
enterocolitis
infective
Crohn’s disease
ulcerative colitis
ischemic colitis
vascular malformation
vascular ectasia
angiodysplasia
arteriovenous m...
Article
Carotid pacemaker
Carotid pacemakers, also known as implantable carotid sinus stimulators, are devices that deliver activation energy, via carotid leads, to the carotid baroreceptors. This is sometimes offered for drug-resistant hypertension. The baroreceptors send signals to the brain and the signals are interpr...
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
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
Inguinal region mass (differential)
The differential diagnosis of an inguinal region mass includes (in no particular order) 1-4:
inguinal hernia
femoral hernia
hydrocele of the canal of Nuck
spermatic cord hydrocele
lymphadenopathy or necrotic lymph node
undescended testis
aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery
i...
Article
Small aorta (differential)
Causes of a small aorta include:
Williams syndrome
Takayasu arteritis
giant cell arteritis
neurofibromatosis
midaortic syndrome
small aorta syndrome
idiopathic
Article
Thoracic aortic dilatation (differential)
There is a broad differential for thoracic aortic dilatation.
Differential diagnosis
senile ectasia
hypertension
post-stenotic dilatation, e.g. bicuspid aortic valve
thoracic aortic aneurysm
atherosclerosis (usually descending thoracic aorta)
collagen disorders
Marfan syndrome
Ehlers-Da...
Article
Thoracic aortic stenosis (differential)
The differential for thoracic aortic stenosis includes:
atherosclerosis
aortitis (especially Takayasu arteritis)
radiotherapy
coarctation
pseudocoarctation
Williams syndrome: supravalvular aortic stenosis
congenital rubella syndrome: supravalvular aortic stenosis
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
Venous thromboembolism
Venous thromboembolism covers a wide spectrum of diseases. Individual conditions and complicating condition include:
head and neck
cerebral vein thrombosis
dural venous sinus thrombosis
cavernous sinus thrombosis
deep cerebral vein thrombosis
cortical vein thrombosis
superior ophthalmic v...
Article
Pulmonary arterial calcification
Pulmonary arterial calcification is a phenomenon which is usually seen in the setting of advanced pulmonary hypertension. It can however be uncommonly present in those without pulmonary hypertension.
Pathology
The general mechanism in the vast majority is thought to be from high end pulmonary ...
Article
Visceral artery aneurysm
Visceral artery aneurysms are abnormal focal dilatations of splanchnic arteries supplying abdominal organs. Visceral artery aneurysms include both true aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms.
Owing to different clinical manifestations and a unique, specific, pathology, renal artery aneurysms are discuss...
Article
Pulmonary vasculitis
Pulmonary vasculitis refers to vasculitides that affect the lung or pulmonary vessels. If this definition is used, a large group of conditions can fall into this category. The respiratory system may be potentially involved in all systemic vasculitides, although to a variable degree.
Pathology
...
Article
Renal vein varices
Renal vein varices (singular: varix) develop for various reasons and are usually asymptomatic.
Clinical presentation
Renal vein varices are usually asymptomatic. Some patients may present with flank pain and/or hematuria.
Pathology
Etiology
chronic renal vein thrombosis
nutcracker syndrom...