Abdominal Imaging

This image reveals some of the muscles and structures comprising the abdominal wall. Viewing a cross-section such as this may prove helpful in appreciating the various "layers" of the abdomen. Structures appearing bright are due to the presence of contrast material given both orally and intravenously, thus highlighting the intenstinal lumen and the intravascular space.

Abdominal Wall Questions

Radiology Quiz

Anatomy Quiz

Practical Quiz

Upper GI Tract

Upper GI Study

This test involves the oral ingestion of barium, a radio-opaque substance, in order to image the upper digestive tract. It is important to remember that the study highlights intraluminal anatomy (the intestinal wall is not directly visualized, only the interface between barium in the lumen and the intestinal wall)

This exam is from a different patient. The barium has moved through the duodenum and into the jejunum. Note that the differentiation of the 3rd from 4th part of the duodenum is not always clearly delineated.

CT: Axial Abdomen

This is an axial image of the upper abdomen from a CT angiogram; the scan was performed when the IV contrast was located within the arteries, before it reached the organs. Notice the pancreas and liver are dark gray, as they have not yet taken up IV contrast. The spleen is brighter, and is just starting to accumulate IV contrast.

ERCP

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography

This is a specific procedure to image the biliary tract. It is done by passing an endoscope orally past the stomach and down into the duodenum where radio-opaque dye is selectively injected into the major duodenal papilla (ampulla of Vater) for fluoroscopic visualization of the biliary tree.

MRCP

Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography

This is a specific MRI sequence which is performed to image the biliary tract and pancreatic duct. It is a heavily T2 weighted MRI sequence where any fluid containing structure appears high signal intensity (white) on the image. The background tissues are subtracted out of the images and therefore poorly seen.

Liver Dissection

Upper GI Questions

Radiology Quiz

Anatomy Quiz

Lower GI Tract

Abdominal Radiograph

This is a supine abdominal radiograph. This patient's small bowel is abnormally dilated, however it demonstrates the fold patterns and differentiating features of the intestines well.

Small Bowel Study

This exam was performed by administering barium and air into the small bowel, to slightly distend and opacify the bowel loops. Note the difference in fold pattern of the jejunum and ileum.

Barium Enema

This imaging study is similar to the upper GI study. It involves administration of barium rectally, which coats the colon wall, and insufflation of the colon with air to provide a "double contrast" view of the colon.

CT: Axial Lower Abdomen

This is an axial image of the mid-abdomen demonstrating the position of the various segments of the colon. The hepatic flexure contains stool, which often appears bubbly due to the air within it. The transverse and descending colon are both decompressed and therefore appear small in caliber. The small bowel is high density from the ingested oral contrast.

CT: Coronal Abdomen

These images are reformatted from an oral and IV contrast enhanced abdominal CT scan. The image on the left is the most anterior and that on the right the most posterior. These images demonstrate how the colon serves to "frame" the small bowel, which is located centrally.

Lower GI Questions

Radiology Quiz

Anatomy Quiz

Abdominal Angiography

AP View

This is an arteriogram of the abdominal aorta, commonly called an "aortogram". The right femoral artery was cannulated with a catheter to inject contrast.

Lateral View

This is an arteriogram of the abdominal aorta, commonly called an "aortogram". The right femoral artery was cannulated and the contrast injected via a catheter placed into the abdominal aorta.

Celiac Trunk (axis) angiogram

This is a selective angiogram of the celiac trunk. Contrast has been injected through the tip of the catheter which is in the celiac trunk. Note that the bony anatomy is visible, it has not been 'subtracted' from view. Note that the celiac trunk is at the L1 vertebral body level.

Renal CT Angiogram

This thick axial image is part of a CT angiogram, where contrast dye is injected into a peripheral vein for optimal imaging of the vasculature. This image was taken when the contrast material was in greatest concentration in the arterial system, making the arteries bright.

Superior Mesenteric Angiogram

This is a selective angiogram of the superior mesenteric artery. Note that the tip of the catheter is in the proximal SMA. Some of the injected contrast refluxes back into the aorta. Note that the bony anatomy has been 'subtracted' from view by a computer program in order to focus on the vascular anatomy.

This is the same image unsubtracted (i.e. with bones).

Superior Mesenteric CT Aortogram

This is a thick coronal image from a CT angiogram. The CT data has been reconstructed in a thick coronal section to show the distribution and branching pattern of the proximal SMA. Note the important relationship between the left renal vein and the SMA.

Portal Venogram

This angiogram of the portal vein was obtained during a special procedure known as a TIPS procedure (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) which is performed for relief of portal hypertension. A catheter (white line descending from the middle portion of the top of the image) has been placed from the right internal jugular vein, through the superior vena cava, through the right atrium and out the right hepatic vein. The catheter then travels through the liver parenchyma and into the right branch of the portal vein. The tip of the catheter is in the splenic vein. Contrast was injected through this catheter to obtain this image.

Inferior Mesenteric Angiogram

This is a selective angiogram of the inferior mesenteric artery. The contrast is filling the inferior mesenteric artery and its branches. Note that the bony anatomy has been 'subtracted' from view by a computer program in order to focus on the vascular anatomy.

This is same image unsubtracted (i.e. with bones). Note that in the unsubtracted image, the contrast has been excreted into the renal collecting systems.

Lateral CTA: Abdominal Aorta

This is a lateral reconstruction of a CTA showing the celiac trunk and SMA.