CT abdomen general
The general principles of the CT abdomen examination.
Systematic assessment of an abdominal CT
- Scan protocol
- Systematic approach & normal anatomy
- Peritoneal vs. retroperitoneal
- General tips for recognizing pathology
Scan protocol
Before starting a systematic assessment of an abdominal CT, first work through a number of contextual steps. First, the scan protocol used should be established (this should, ideally, be tailored to the clinical question): which contrast was administered, and in which phase(s) was the scan acquired? This directly determines which structures can and cannot be assessed. In addition, consult the patient's medical history and any available prior imaging so findings can be interpreted in the correct clinical context and compared with earlier examinations. With this information, you can perform a structured, step-by-step assessment of the abdominal CT.
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Text
drs. A. van der Plas (MSK radiologist Maastricht UMC+)
With special thanks to:
drs. J. Verdult (abdominal radiologist Amphia Hospital)
Illustrations
drs. A. van der Plas (MSK radiologist Maastricht UMC+)
Sources:
- N.C. Dalrymple et al. Problem Solving in Abdominal Imaging (2009)
- M. Prokop; Spiral and Multislice Computed Tomography of the body (2003)
26/02/2017
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