Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Diagnosis: Malignant Mesothelioma With Contrast CT Chest Images

History: A 62 year old woman presents with pleural effusion. She has a history of remote asbestos exposure.

Findings: Intense nodular uptake is seen involving the pleura of the entire left hemithorax corresponding to the concentric, diffuse and nodular pleural thickening on the comparison CT images. The foci of FDG uptake are seen in a subcarinal lymph node and right anterosuperior mediastinum, corresponding to the lymphadenopathy on the CT images performed three days ago. The extensive volume loss of the left lung is noted. There is no involvement of the right pleura.

Follow Up: Pleural biopsy demonstrated malignant mesothelioma (epithelial type).

Differential Diagnosis List: Pleural metastases and pleural change from Talc Pleurodesis.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Liver - Picture - MSN Encarta

Liver - Picture - MSN Encarta: "The largest internal organ in humans, the liver is also one of the most important. It has many functions, among them the synthesis of proteins, immune and clotting factors, and oxygen and fat-carrying substances. Its chief digestive function is the secretion of bile, a solution critical to fat emulsion and absorption. The liver also removes excess glucose from circulation and stores it until it is needed. It converts excess amino acids into useful forms and filters drugs and poisons from the bloodstream, neutralizing them and excreting them in bile. The liver has two main lobes, located just under the diaphragm on the right side of the body. It can lose 75 percent of its tissue (to disease or surgery) without ceasing to function."

BILIARY SYSTEM

Liver image with markings


The Hepatic Portal System of Circulation


Circulation: "The Hepatic Portal System of Circulation.
This system serves the intestines, spleen, pancreas and gall bladder. The liver receives it blood from two main sources. The main sources are the hepatic artery, which as a branch of the aorta, supplies oxygenated blood to the liver and the hepatic portal vein, which is formed by the union of veins from the spleen, the stomach, pancreas, duodenum and the colon. The hepatic portal vein transports, inter alia, the following blood to the liver:
absorbed nutrients from the duodenum;
white blood cells (added to the circulation) from the spleen;
poisomous substances, such as alcohol which are absorbed in the intestines, and
waste products, such as carbon dioxide from the spleen, pancreas, stomach and duodenum.
The hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein open into the liver sinuses where the blood is in direct contact with the liver cells. The deoxygenated blood, which still retains some dissolved nutrients, eventually flows into the inferior vena cava via the hepatic veins.Coronary Circulation.
This circulation supplies the heart muscle itself with oxygen and nutrients and conveys carbon dioxide and other waste products away from the heart. Two coronary arteries lead from the aorta to the heart wall, where they branch off and enter the heart muscle. The blood is returned from the heart muscle to the right atrium through the coronary vein, which enters the right atrium through the coronary sinus"

Abdominal Aorta Branches


The abdominal aorta supplies blood to much of the abdominal cavity. It begins at T12, and usually has the following branches:
Inferior Phrenic (paired) originates just below the diaphragm, supplying it from below
Celiac (single) large anterior branch
Superior Mesenteric (single) large anterior branch, arises just below celiac trunk
Middle Suprarenal (paired) to adrenal gland
Renal (paired) large artery, each arising from the side of the aorta; supplies corresponding kidney
Gonadal (paired) ovarian artery in females; testicular artery in males
Lumbar (paired) four on each side that supply the abdominal wall and spinal cord
Inferior Mesenteric (single) large anterior branch
Median Sacral (single) artery arising from the middle of the aorta at its lowest part
Common Iliac (paired) branches (bifurcates) to supply blood to the lower limbs and the pelvis, ending the abdominal aorta

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Homework assignment

To complete our homework assignment for CT Physics we were to take something off the Internet and copy it to our blog. So her goes. The topic is CT Physics.


The Physics of Computed Tomography
To truly understand CT scanning, you must first learn about X-rays and how they are produced. X-rays are a form of light with a wavelength in the range of 0.1 nanometres to 10 nanometres. This extremely small wavelength indicates that the X-rays have a much higher energy than visible light. X-rays can be dangerous in high dosages; however the amount received during a CT scan is minimal and safe. In fact the radiation dose from this procedure is between 0.2 to 2.0 rads of radiation.
The X-ray production process begins by creating electrons with a metallic cathode (filament). In an evacuated space, electrons are boiled away from a hot filament, which is heated by an external current. These electrons are then accelerated though a large potential difference, and collide with heavy atoms in the metal anode. Most of the electrons’ energy is expended heating up the metal anode, while the rest is emitted in the form of photons in the X-ray range of frequency. Generally, the metal used as the anode has a high melting point, and is an excellent thermal conductor. The anode must have these properties if it is to withstand electron bombardment, and avoid over heating (i.e. melting). Tungsten incorporates these desirable characteristics, and is typically the material used for the anode construction.

Now to bring over a picture. I tried several times and could not bring over the picture, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Plus, I can't remember the screen the teacher was on to bring over the picture and post it to the left, right or middle of the page, along with size of the picture.