The Pulmonary Hila
CT is helpful in the diagnosis of endobronchial lesions, hilar and parahilar masses, and hilar vascular lesions. Technique In most patients the hila are adequately assessed with spiral CT with…
Abdominal Trauma
Multidetector CT (MDCT) is the imaging method of choice for the diagnosis of intra-abdominal injury following blunt abdominal trauma. Treatment is directed by characterization of the precise nature of the…
Peritoneal Cavity, Vessels, Nodes, and Abdominal Wall
Peritoneal Cavity Anatomy The various recesses and spaces of the peritoneal cavity are easiest to recognize on CT when ascites is present. Identifying the precise compartment that an abnormality is…
Biliary Tree and Gallbladder
Biliary Tree Primary imaging of the biliary tree depends increasingly on CT, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and with diminishing reliance on invasive endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Multidetector…
Pleura, Chest Wall, and Diaphragm
Technical Considerations In general, the pleura and chest wall are adequately evaluated with routine thoracic CT techniques. Contrast medium infusion is helpful in showing pleural thickening and in allowing its…
Mediastinum: Vascular Abnormalities and Pulmonary Embolism
Aortic Abnormalities Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to diagnose abnormalities of the aorta or its branches when they are suspected clinically or because of radiographic abnormalities. Congenital Anomalies Congenital…
Approach to the Patient with Shortness of Breath
Introduction Patients presenting with undifferentiated shortness of breath can be challenging because their presentations can have many potential etiologies: pulmonary, cardiac, mixed cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, neurologic, or other noncardiopulmonary reasons. It…
Mediastinum: Lymph Node Abnormalities and Masses
Lymph Node Groups Mediastinal lymph nodes are generally classified by location. Most descriptive systems are based on a modification of Rouvière’s classification of lymph node groups. The names used in…
Ultrasound-Guided Procedures
Pericardiocentesis Introduction Performing a pericardiocentesis in an unstable patient with cardiac tamponade is a lifesaving procedure. Pericardial fluid is a common finding on point-of-care echocardiography examination and can occur from…
Introduction to CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Despite marked advances in limiting image times for magnetic resonance imaging, CT remains the primary modality for most indications for imaging the abdomen and pelvis. The technology of multidetector CT…
