Chad Miller

Preliminary Diagnosis: Gastrointestinal Mesenchymal Tumor I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with PO and IV contrast II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor. Advantages Relatively quick Highly sensitive and specific imaging modality in diagnosing a primary pathologic…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Gastric Lymphoma I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with PO and IV contrast. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of gastric lymphoma. Advantages Relatively quick Highly sensitive and specific imaging modality in diagnosing a primary pathologic process and…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Foramen of Morgagni Hernia I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Chest X-ray, PA, and lateral view. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing a foramen of morgagni hernia. Advantages Highly portable. Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation. Relatively inexpensive imaging modality.Related Content Plain radiography is sensitive…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Foramen of Bochdalek Hernia I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Chest X-ray, PA, and lateral view. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing foramen of bochdalek hernia? Advantages Relatively inexpensive and highly portable imaging modality. Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation. Plain radiography is highly sensitive…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Esophageal Rupture I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? PA and lateral view of the chest and abdomen. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing esophageal rupture. Advantages Relatively inexpensive imaging modality. Highly portable imaging modality. Exposes patients to negligible radiation.Related Content Disadvantages Less sensitive and specific…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Esophageal Adenocarcinoma I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Double contrasted fluoroscopic-guided examination of the esophagus using effervescent crystals and thick liquid barium II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Advantages Highly portable and quick imaging modality May allow for good detail of the…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Chest X-ray, PA, and lateral view. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Advantages Inexpensive. Fast imaging modality. Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation.Related Content Highly portable. Disadvantages Less sensitive and specific in detailing…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Cor Pulmonale I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? 2-D echocardiography. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing cor pulmonale. Advantages Does not expose patients to ionizing radiation. Highly sensitive and specific in detecting cardiac abnormalities and detailing the source of abnormality (valvular, pericardial, vascular). Able to…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Chylothorax I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Plain radiographs II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of chylothorax. Advantages Sensitive for a pleural effusion often found on the left side Quick Inexpensive Minimal exposure to ionizing radiationRelated Content Disadvantage Cannot assess contents of pleural fluid or…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Cholesterol Emboli Syndrome I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CT with intravenous contrast II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of cholesterol emboli syndrome. Advantages Specific to identify calcified and soft plaque using thin slices and reconstructions Relatively inexpensive Quick procedure Can visualize complications including aneurysm,…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Cervical Spondylosis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Plain radiography of the cervical spin II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of cervical spondylosis. Advantages Easily available Quickly performed Relatively inexpensive compared with other modalities Disadvantages Exposure to a small amount of ionizing radiationRelated Content III.…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Cervical Disc Protrusion I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Noncontrast extradural protocol MRI of the cervical spine in patients without a history of prior neck surgery In patients with prior neck surgery, the first-line for diagnosis is a contrast extradural protocol MRI of the cervical spine II. Describe the advantages…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Cerebral Casculitis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Contrast MRI of the brain with MRA of the head II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of cerebral vasculitis. Advantages Able to detail gray and white matter with exquisite detail Able to localize the anterior and posterior…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Carotid Dissection I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CTA of the head and neck with IV contrast II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of carotid dissection. Advantages Highly sensitive and specific in diagnosing and detailing the extent of the carotid dissection Able to exquisitely visualize…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Cardiomyopathy I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? 2-D echocardiography II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. Advantages Can assess for chamber dilatation, myocardial wall thinning or thickening, abnormal ejection fraction and increased end-diastolic volume, systolic obstruction Diagnostic Disadvantages Imaging may be limited by obese…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Bronchogenic/Enteric/Pleuropericardial Cyst I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Chest radiographs: PA and lateral views and a dedicated abdominal series of radiographs II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of bronchogenic/enteric/pleuropericardial cyst. Advantages Highly portable Inexpensive relative to other modalities Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation Disadvantages…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Breast Cancer I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis Dedicated mammographic evaluation of the bilateral breasts. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of Breast Cancer. Advantages Highly sensitive and specific imaging modality in detecting abnormalities of the breast. Gold standard in detecting breast abnormalities. May help…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CT of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast and/or CT urography/cystography II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Advantages Relatively quick imaging modality Offers exquisite detail of the underlying and surrounding anatomical…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Bell's Palsy I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? MRI of the brain with contrast, 7th cranial nerve protocol II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of Bell's palsy. Advantages Can define and characterize the 7th cranial nerve from the brainstem throught the parotid in all three…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Atrial Septal Defect I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis 2-D Echocardiography II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis. Advantages Highly portable imaging modality. Does not expose patients to ionizing radiation. Highly sensitive and specific in detecting cardiac structural abnormalities and cardiac chamber pressures. Disadvantages Limited in…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Aortic Sclerosis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis Gray scale and color doppler echocardiography (transesophageal offers better resolution compared to transthoracic) II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of Aortic Stenosis. Advantages Highly portable, fast, and relatively inexpensive imaging modality. Does not expose patients to ionizing…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Aortic Insufficiency I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Gray scale and color Doppler echocardiography (transesophageal offers better resolution than transthoracic) II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of aortic insufficiency. Advantages Highly portable, fast, and relatively inexpensive imaging modality Does not expose patients to ionizing radiation…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Angioedema I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Contrasted CT of the soft tissue, visceral organ, or structure of interest. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of angioedema. Advantages Offers exquisite detail of the underlying soft tissue, surrounding vascular structures, osseous structures, and lymphatic structures Relatively…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Alveolar Proteinosis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Plain radiography of the chest, PA and lateral views II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of alveolar proteinosis. Advantages Highly portable, fast imaging modality Exposes the patient to negligible ionizing radiation Relatively inexpensive imaging modalityRelated Content Disadvantages…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Adenocarcinoma of the Small Intestine I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis with intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) contrast II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of Adenocarcinoma of the Small Intestine. Advantages Highly sensitive and specific in detecting and characterizing…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Neuroma I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Contrast-enhanced brain MRI and full internal auditory canal exam II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of neuroma. Advantages Can rule out retrocochlear pathology with great precision and accuracy Visualizes the internal auditory canal, cerebellar pontine angle, and vestibular…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Abdominal Fistulas I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CT with oral and intravenous contrast II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of abdominal fistulas. Advantages Quick examination after allowing oral contrast to migrate through the bowel Specific examination in identifying a particular place of bowel abnormality…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Lung Abscess I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis Chest x-ray, PA and lateral view II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of a lung abscess. Advantages Fast and inexpensive imaging modality Exposes the patient to minimal ionizing radiation Highly portable May be highly sensitive for diagnosing…

I. What every physician needs to know. Hyperthermia is an elevation in the body’s temperature due to excess generation of heat or the inability to dissipate heat. This process is not mediated by inflammatory cytokines like fever. Hyperthermia is frequently associated with medications that rapidly accelerate the body’s metabolism to generate heat or prevent the…

Preliminary Diagnosis: Portal Vein Thrombosis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? Gray scale, Color Doppler, and spectral waveform analysis of the portal veins. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing portal vein thrombosis. Advantages Relatively quick and highly portable imaging modality. Does not expose patients to ionizing radiation.…