This document provides an overview of the role of radiology in surgery. It discusses various radiological techniques including X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, and radiotherapy. It explains how each technique works and examples of their applications in surgical diagnosis and treatment. The document aims to familiarize readers with the principles and key roles of different radiological investigations in evaluating and managing surgical disorders.
1. Radiology in surgery
diagnosis and therapy
Dr. Mohammed Hajhamad
MB.ChB. (Egypt) M.S (Malaysia)
Department of Surgery
International Medical School
Management and Science University
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Objectives
1. Become familiar with the basic techniques and principles of radiological
investigation
2. Understand the principles of selection of the most appropriate
radiological technique for a given clinical problem.
3. Identify the key roles of radiology in the diagnosis and management of
surgical disorders.
4. Understand the principles and indications for radiotherapy in surgical
diseases.
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Remember …
No radiological technique replaces
clinical skills.
Do not base clinical decision making on
imaging findings alone.
“ Treat the patient and not the X-ray”
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How are radiological
techniques used in surgery?
To aid in the diagnosis of a surgical
disorder
As an interventional technique to treat a
surgical disorder or one of its
complications
To guide a surgical procedure.
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Radiographs, the basics
The five radiographic
densities are in order of
increasing brightness:
I. Air
2. Fat
3. Fluid
4. Bone
5. Metal.
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CT scan and MRI
Lamp and the desk are spinning rapidly around your finger. (experiment)
This situation is analogous to a
In CT scan (Computed Tomography), the x-ray tube (lamp) and the
detector (wall) spin rapidly around the patient.
Information is transferred to a computer and multiple images are
reconstructed.
CT images give the impression of looking at cross-sectional slices of the
patient.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) generates cross-sectional images
using a large magnetic field.
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Ultrasonography, the basics
Piez0-electric effect
Piezo (in Greek) means: squeeze.
Piezoelectric Effect is the ability of
certain materials to generate an electric
charge in response to applied
mechanical stress.
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Ultrasonography, the basics
An ultrasound wave is generated when
an electric field is applied to an array of
piezoelectric crystals located on the
transducer surface.
Electrical stimulation causes mechanical
distortion of the crystals resulting in
vibration and production of sound
waves.
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Ultrasonography, the basics
Ultrasound: sound waves at higher
frequencies than can be detected by
human being (>20,000 Hz)
In medicine, we use very high frequency
between 2-20 MHz.
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Ultrasonography, the basics
Acoustic impedance (Z) is a physical
property of tissue.
It describes how much resistance an
ultrasound beam encounters as it passes
through a tissue.
Acoustic impedance depends on: the
density of the tissue (d, in kg/m3) the
speed of the sound wave (c, in m/s)
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Nuclear imaging
Radio-isotops (radiopharmaceuticals)
are given intravenously or orally.
Then, external detectors (gamma
cameras) capture and form images
from the radiation emitted by the
radiopharmaceuticals.
There are several techniques of
diagnostic nuclear medicine.
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Examples
Whole body bone scan – used to identify metastatic cancer involving the
bone.
Thyroid uptake scan – used to visualize the thyroid gland when disease of
the thyroid is suspected.
Renal scan – used to indicate the perfusion, function and structure of the
kidneys. It is also used to indicate the presence of obstruction or
renovascular hypertension.
Parathyroid scan – done primarily to detect tumors in the parathyroid gland.
Liver/spleen scan – allows for visualization of the liver and spleen. It is
indicated for patients with cancer to rule out metastatic tumor in the liver.
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Theraputic radiology
Radiotherapy
A clinical modality dealing with the use
of ionizing radiation in the treatment of
patients
Cancer treatment
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What is interventional radiology?
Interventional radiology is a subspecialty
which provides minimally invasive diagnosis
and/or treatment using imaging (ultrasound,
CT, or fluoroscopy) to target the intervention
and show the results of the intervention.
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1. Percutaneous biopsy
US, CT or fluoroscopy
Random sampling or
sampling of a mass
Lung, mediastinum,
pleura, chest wall,
nodes
Liver, adrenal gland,
pancreas kidneys,
lymph nodes
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2. Percutaneous abscess drainage
US, CT or fluoroscopy
Aspiration or drainage
tube placement
Usually for infection
Pleura, lung
Hepatic (intra/sub),
pericolic gutters,
perisplenic,
peri/intrapancreatic,
pouch of Douglas, psoas,
abdominal wall
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3. Arteriography
Injection of contrast
media directly into
arteries and vis via
fluoroscopy
Usually immediately
precedes and
intervention is
angioplasty, stenting,
embolization,
thrombolysis
Aorta, pelvis, lower and
upper extremities,
kidneys, gut, lungs
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13. Foreign body retrieval
Most frequently
guidewires or catheters
Usually in the right heart
or pulmonary artery
Retrieval under
fluoroscopic guidance
using snares needed
given infection,
arrhythmia risk
64. Normal Gas Pattern
○ Stomach
Always (except supine)
○ Small Bowel
Two or three loops of
non-distended bowel
Normal diameter = 2.5
cm = 1 US quarter
○ Large Bowel
In rectum or sigmoid –
almost always
66. · Large Bowel
¨ Peripheral
¨ Haustral markings don't
extend
from wall to wall
· Small Bowel
¨ Central
¨ Valvulae extend across
lumen
¨ Maximum diameter of 2"
Infiltrating esophageal carcinoma. Double-contrast esophagogram shows a malignant stricture with the typical features: a markedly irregular contour and abrupt, shelflike proximal and distal margins (arrows).
Nasogastric intubation stricture. Prone single-contrast esophagogram shows a relatively long segment of narrowing in the distal esophagus (arrows). This stricture developed 3 months after prolonged nasogastric intubation.
Note: Narrowed lumen of gastric antrum by infiltrating carcinoma-typical adenocarcinoma – Linitis Plastica
Note barium collection Centrally with surrounding edema.
Normal air contrast barium enema (double contrast-air and barium per rectum) shows filling of colon with air and barium retrograde to the cecum with reflux into the terminal ileum.
Note dilated small bowel centrally placed with air/fluid levels on upright exam.
Proximal loops are dilated and distal loops are collapsed indicating an obstruction.
Note hernia in right lower quadrant on both exams accounting for obstruction.
Hernia is likely cause if there is no history of prior surgery.
Distension extends to distal descending colon.
Barium enema showing apple-core type constricting lesion with proximal dilation of colon—”APPLE - CORE” constricting lesion
Dilated horse-shoe shaped sigmoid colon due to volvulus.
Narrowed distal ileum due to chronic inflammation is typical for Crohn’s disease.
pecimen radiograph shows an ileoileal fistula (arrow). Note the cobblestone mucosa and deep ulcerations associated with mural thickening (red arrow).
Barium extends from lumen outward into diverticulum.
Extensive inflammation, wall thickening and spasm can simulate carcinoma with colonoscopy required to confirm.
Occasionally a calculus (appendicolith) is seen as the source of appendicitis due to obstruciton of the appendix and inflammation.
CBD stone
image of cholangiocarcinoma, showing common bile duct stricture and dilation of the proximal common bile duct
Proximal loops are dilated and distil loops are collapsed indicating an obstruction.
Obstruction most likely due to adhesions in a patient with history of abdominal surgery
Pneumoretroperitoneum
Large amount of retroperitoneal, mediastinal and subcutaneous free air due to perforation of sigmoid colon during colonoscopy.
Polyp of transverse colon
Round intraluminal formation in the middle part of the transverse colon adherent to the wall.
Tumour of rectum
Tumorous enhancing circular thickening of rectal wall, enlarged lymphatic vessels in periproctal fat.
تابع
تابع للي قبله وأوضح
Bowel ischemia, gas in portal vein and liver
Massiver ischemia of the bowel - most small bowel loops have non-enhacing wall, gas within the wall, gas is present in portal branches in liver. Perfusion changes of the liver as well. Stranding and edema of the mesentery.
تابع للقي قبله
Pyelocystitis, narrowing of calyceal neck, tumour of rectum
Marked circular thickening of bladder wall, conspicuous hyperenhancement of the lining of bladder, left ureter and left pelvis. The neck of left middle calyx is relatively narrowed causing stagnation of contrast in medulla and cortex - this creates a sharply delinated area of persisting enhancement in the left kidney. Circular irregular thickening of rectal wall, enlarged (infiltrated) regional lymph nodes.
pneumobilia biliarygas,CT scan of the abdomen where gas was noted in the intrahepatic bile ducts
GS ilues
3findings: air in the gall stone in the ilum ,small bowel destention, biliary tree
Amebic Liver abscess- CT scan illustrates large rim enhancing abscess collection with surrounding infiltration and edema
large low attenuation abscess with numerous foci of air consistent with gas-producing organisms
Pyogenic abscess. (A) CT scan demonstrates a heterogeneous low attenuation fluid collection in the liver consistent with abscess
Pancreatic cancer with multiple liver metastases. CT image demonstrates multiple low density lesions consistent with metastatic disease.
This patient had a large subdiaphragmatic hepatocellular carcinoma.Causes of an elevated hemidiaphragm are:1) Above the diaphragm – decreased lung volume (atelectasis, collapse, lobectomy, pneumonectomy, pulmonary hypoplasia).2) Diaphragm – phrenic nerve palsy, diaphragmatic eventration3) Below the diaphragm – abdominal tumour, subphrenic abscess, distended stomach or colon.Differential diagnoses which may mimic an elevated hemidiaphragm are subpulmonic effusion, diaphragmatic hernia, diaphragmatic rupture and a tumour of the pleura or diaphragm.
Hernia
Findings: Multiple small bowel loops in scrotum due to right inguinal hernia. Compression of penile urethra.
DISTENDED APPENDIX WITH LOCAL
INFLAMATION.
Catheter has been placed by radiologist using CT guidance draining abscess collection.
=========== REPORT TEXT =========== C.T. SCAN OF NECK:I.V. contrast enhanced scanning was performed.FINDINGS:A well-defined large heterogeneous, intensely enhancing lesion noted in the right carotid space measuring about 3.7 x 4.1 x 5.8 cm with internal cystic areas. The lesion is extending between the external and internal carotids and reaching the right thyroid inferiorly. Both the carotids and the right jugular vein are displaced laterally.The right external and internal carotids and the right common carotid are patent.Few small subcentimetric lymph nodes noted in bilateral posterior triangle, the largest measuring 7.5 x 6.5 mm in the right posterior triangle. Incidentally, there is mucosal thickening of the right maxillary sinus, the right ethmoid and mildly in the right sphenoid sinus. No obvious bony abnormality seen.Included sections of the brain appear unremarkable.The thyroid appears heterogeneous, to be correlated with ultrasonography. CONCLUSION:Intensely enhancing lesion in the right carotid space most likely representing carotid body tumour.
Carotid Body Tumor
gallbladder stones with mild gallbladder wall thickening
Acute Cholycystitis
FINDINGS:There are multiple variable sized gallbladder stones with mild gallbladder wall thickening.There is focal CBD dilatation in the distal part measured about 6mm , but no CBD stones no intrahepatic biliary tree dilatation .Tiny stone seen in previous study not seen in current study.
FINDINGS:There is 1.9 x 1.7 well defined anechoic liver lesions seen in the left lobe of the liver and shows no vascularity on color flow Doppler, likely representing simple liver cyst. No other lesion is seen.There are multiple gallstones with mild thickening and layering of the gallbladder wall measuring 3 mm. No pericholecystic fluid.Sonographic Murphy's sign is not reliable as the patient has taken analgesic.The CBD is dilated measuring 1 cm with tiny stone noted in the mid-portion measuring 0.4 cm.Mild intrahepatic biliary duct dilatation.Both kidneys are normal apart from two simple renal cortical cysts noted in the upper pole of the left kidney, largest measures 5 x 4.5 cm and and one parapelvic cyst in the right kidney measuring 1.2 x 1 cm.Pancreas is partially visualized due to gaseous abdomen. The spleen is unremarkable.No free fluid.The prostate is mildly enlarge, measuring 28.7 cc with normal echogenicity.CONCLUSION:Findings described above are likely representing early acute cholecystitis, for clinical correlation.
FINDINGS:At around 9 o'clock position of the right breast, there is a lobulated circumscribed mass, showing some areas of spiculations and some borders are not clear and irregular, collectively the mass is3.2 x 3.1 x 3 cm in size. Heterogeneous appearance of part of the surrounding breast parenchyma.The lesion is extending to some of the adjacent ducts at the retroareolar and outer part of the breast.Some spiculation reaching the retroareolar region with retraction of the nipple. No significant skin thickening. There are no other detectable lesions although there is small nodularity in direct contact to the outer lower part of the mass. There are few pathological right axillary lymph nodes, at leasttwo are detectable largest of which is 1.3 x 2.2 cm in size with absence of normal fatty hilum, infiltration and low echogenicity of the parenchyma. No other detectable abnormalities at the rest of the breast, specifically the left breast or axilla, which showed normal sized lymph nodes with normal morphologic appearance.
Normal appearance of the chest wall muscles. CONCLUSION:The described mass at the right breast is radiologically highly suggestive of malignancy with pathological metastatic right ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes.