Preliminary Diagnosis: Colitis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CT of the abdomen and pelvis with IV and oral contrast. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing colitis. Advantages A relatively quick imaging procedure that requires minimal patient cooperation. The imaging may suggest certain pathogens when infectious colitis…
Initial Diagnosis: Peritonitis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CT of the abdomen and pelvis with IV and oral contrast In cases of septic shock with signs of acute peritonitis, surgical consultation should be considered with prompt resuscitative efforts II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of peritonitis.…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Mesenteric Adenitis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis Ultrasound with graded compression It should be noted that mesenteric adenitis is a diagnosis of exclusion and diagnostic imaging should be utilized when more sinister diagnoses are suspected (eg, appendicitis, intussusception). II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Crohn's Disease I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CT of the abdomen and pelvis with IV and oral contrast is indicated in patients with abdominal pain in whom enteritis/colitis is suspected, or to evaluate for complications of known Crohn’s disease (e.g., abscess, stricture, obstruction). Endoscopy with tissue biopsy is the…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Ulcerative colitis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis Colonoscopy is the gold standard. CT of the abdomen and pelvis with IV and oral contrast is indicated in patients with abdominal pain in whom colitis is suspected or to evaluate for complications of known ulcerative colitis (e.g., abscess, perforation, toxic megacolon).…
