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Describe characteristics of the peritoneum and retroperitoneum in general. (4)
- potential spaces
- not identifiable on routine imaging if normal
- spaces are separated by a serous membrane
- they are a conduit for blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves
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Describe the components of the peritoneum.
- Parietal: covers inner surface of abdominal cavity; separates extraperitoneal and intraperitoneal spaces
- Visceral: covers organs
- Connecting: mesenteries, omenta, and intra-abdominal ligaments
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What is the location of the retroperitonuem? What does it communicate with?
- located b/w dorsal margin of parietal peritoneum and abdominal wall; outside the peritoneal cavity
- communicates cranially with the mediastinum through the aortic hiatus and caudally with the pelvic canal
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What organs are contained within the retroperitoneum? (5)
- adrenal glands
- kidneys
- ureters
- major blood vessels (aorta, CVC)
- lymph nodes
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What organs are contained within the peritoneal cavity? (12)
- liver
- spleen
- stomach
- small intestine
- colon
- pancreas
- lymph nodes
- bladder
- prostate
- ovaries
- uterus
- testicles
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Abdominal detail is better with more _________.
peritoneal and retroperitoneal fat
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What are reasons for lack of abdominal detail? (6)
- under-exposure
- emaciated animals (lack fat)
- young animals with increased brown adipose tissue
- crowding of abdominal structures
- peritonitis
- effusion (fluid is soft tissue opacity and causes border effacement/ silhouetting)
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Describe the appearance of large and small amounts of abdominal effusion on radiographs.
- Large amounts of fluid- homogenous loss of detail
- Small amounts of fluid- wispy appearance
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What are causes of increased abdominal detail? (2)
- gas in peritoneal space- post-surgery or penetrating wound
- rule out superimposed subcutaneous emphysema
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If there is a small amount of gas in the peritoneum, you can take what projection and why?
- left lateral decubitus ventrodorsal horizontal beam
- left lateral recumbency (avoid gas within fundus) for 10 minutes, horizontally directed x-ray beam---> gas accumulates under caudal ribs (so you can isolate a small amount of gas in the peritoneum if you suspect it)
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What is the most common cause for gas accumulation in the retroperitoneum?
extension from the mediastinum
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What is the best way to see gas accumulation in the retroperitoneum?
lateral projection
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What are bate's bodies?
- saponified fat or fat nodular necrosis, appearing as focal calcified bodies within the peritoneal space
- incidental finding
- more common in cats
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What are causes of mineralization of major vessels within the abdomen? (3)
- abnormal calcium metabolism
- chronic uremia
- hypothyroidism
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What are peritoneal structures that we DO NOT see on radiographs? (4)
- pancreas
- lymph nodes
- ovaries
- uterus
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What are retroperitoneal structures that we DO NOT see on radiographs? (3)
- adrenal glands
- ureters
- lymph nodes
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What is the location of the pancreas?
- body is b/w the pylorus and proximal duodenum
- right limb extends caudally adjacent to the descending duodenum
- left limb is b/w stomach and transverse colon, extending to left kidney
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How might an abnormal pancreas appear on radiographs? (3)
- right cranial abdominal detail is USUALLY greater than the left
- proximal descending duodenum may be displaced ventrally on lateral
- broad curvature of pylorus to duodenum on VD
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How might abnormal adrenals appear on radiographs? (3)
- only identifiable if enlarged or mineralized
- may displace kidney caudolaterally
- incidental in 50% of older cats
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When is the gravid uterus first seen on radiographs in dogs?
33-41 days
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When can fetus spines be visualized on rads in dogs and cats?
- dogs: 22-27 days
- cats: 20-22 days
- (40 days?)
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What does fetal demise look like on radiographs? (3)
- gas within or around fetuses
- overlapping bones of cranium (collapse)
- collapse of fetal skeleton
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Where is the uterus located?
between the colon and bladder
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Where are the sublumbar lymph nodes located?
dorsal to the colon (if enlarged, may displace colon ventrally)
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