Accurate evaluation of abdominal radiographs can be challenging, as the majority of abdominal organs are of soft tissue opacity and, when superimposed on an abdominal radiograph, can be difficult to distinguish from each other. Consistent interpretation of abdominal radiographs requires a logical approach, as well as a good knowledge of normal radiographic anatomy, enabling you to recognise the presence and location of any abnormalities. During this Mini Series, we will work our way logically through the abdominal cavity of the dog and cat, reviewing the normal radiographic appearance of the abdominal structures and using that knowledge to identify and evaluate radiographic abnormalities commonly encountered in abdominal disease. At the end of each webinar, a multiple-choice film-reading quiz will provide an opportunity to put the theory into practice.

• Join RCVS & European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Esther Barrett for three 2-hour sessions
• Get all the help you need with your Abdominal Radiology in practice
• Learn about recent advances that you can apply to your patients
• Lots of case-based discussion and videos to illustrate key points
• Comprehensive notes to download
• Self-assessment quiz to ‘release’ your 8 hours CPD certification (don’t worry, you can take them more than once if you don’t quite hit the mark first time)
• A whole year’s access to recorded sessions for reviewing key points
• Superb value for money – learn without travelling
• This Mini Series was originally broadcast in August 2014

Programme

Getting the Best out of Your Abdominal Radiographs and Evaluating the Abdominal Space, Liver and Spleen

• Obtaining diagnostic abdominal radiographs – what are the potential challenges?
• Principles of interpretation – remember Roentgen signs?
• Abdominal radiology vs ultrasound – do I need both?
• A logical approach to abdominal masses
• Evaluating the abdominal space
  • Normal radiographic anatomy of the peritoneal and retroperitoneal spaces
  • Identifying free fluid and free gas
  • Typical radiographic features of peritonitis
  • Typical radiographic features of abdominal lymphadenopathy
• Evaluating the liver
  • Recognising changes in hepatic size, shape and opacity
  • Typical radiographic features of liver masses, metabolic hepatopathy, congenital porto-systemic shunts and chronic liver disease
• Evaluating the spleen
  • Recognising changes in splenic size, shape and opacity
  • Typical radiographic features of splenic masses and splenic torsion
• What could ultrasound add to the evaluation of the abdominal space, liver and spleen?
• Test yourself: Examples of commonly encountered hepatic, splenic and abdominal space disease

Evaluating the Urogenital Tract

• Evaluating the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
  • Recognising changes in renal size, shape and opacity
  • Urinary tract contrast studies
  • Radiographic features of renal & ureteral calculi, nephritis / pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis, ectopic ureters, renal neoplasia, renal cysts and renal and/or ureteral rupture
  • Radiographic features of cystitis, bladder and urethral calculi, bladder and urethral neoplasia, bladder and urethral rupture and bladder diverticula
• Evaluating the ovaries, uterus and prostate
  • Radiographic features of pregnancy, pyometra, uterine and ovarian neoplasia
  • Radiographic features of prostatic disease, paraprostatic cysts and cryptorchidism
• What could ultrasound add to the evaluation of the uro-genital tract?
• Test yourself: Examples of commonly encountered hepatic, splenic and abdominal space disease
• Test yourself: Examples of commonly encountered uro-genital abnormalities

Evaluating the Gastro-intestinal Tract

• Evaluating the stomach
  • Normal radiographic anatomy and variations
  • Identifying gastric foreign bodies
  • Typical radiographic features of gastric dilation and volvulus
• Evaluating the small intestine
  • Normal radiographic anatomy
  • Logical evaluation of changes in the size, shape, opacity and position if the small intestinal loops
• Evaluating the pancreas
  • Can I recognise pancreatitis from an abdominal radiograph?
• Evaluating the large intestine
  • Normal radiographic anatomy

This webinar mini-series is suitable for all vets in practice, and will be of particular interest to those wishing to improve their confidence in the interpretation of abdominal radiographs.

 Course Feedback:

“This course will help me in practice a great deal – improved confidence in interpretation, more likely to pick up on abnormalities that would previously overlooked”

“I thought it was very thorough, with good explanations. It will help me to identify abnormalities on abdominal radiography”

“The recordings were particularly useful as I could pause and study the radiographs. I feel much more confident in my interpretive skills”