Have you just received an abdominal radiograph? You do not know what the different terms mean? Or maybe you haven’t had time to discuss all your doubts about the result with your doctor? If so, I invite you to read the article. Remember, however, that the correct interpretation of the result must take into account the whole picture of the patient, his disease or ailments. The article will not teach you to interpret the result, but it will allow you to get used to the complicated medical vocabulary.
An abdominal x-ray is a standard procedure for suspected gastrointestinal perforation or intestinal obstruction. Both indications are urgent indications, which means that the examination is most often performed urgently in the Hospital Emergency Department or the Emergency Room.
However, there are situations in which the examination is ordered on an outpatient basis in patients who do not require immediate assistance. If you are one of these people and would like to learn more about the interpretation of your result, please read the article carefully.
Selected terms used in the description of the X-ray of the abdominal cavity
The most important and common terms used to describe an abdominal radiograph and a brief explanation of the individual tests are presented below. The explanations are intended to familiarize you with the test results, but remember that they are not a substitute for contacting a doctor. Any doubts should be reported to the attending physician.
- Contrast examination of the gastrointestinal tract
What it means: the test consists in administering a contrast agent, i.e. a contrast agent that facilitates the visualization of the structures of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common contrast is barite salts or iodine compounds.
Interpretation: the contrast test is mainly used in the diagnosis of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Check how the contrast to research works and whether anyone can take it
- Intestinal passage
Which means: single-contrast examination of the small intestine.
Interpretation: oral administration of the contrast agent allows to visualize the small intestine and possible pathological changes (especially obstruction and perforation), and also allows the assessment of intestinal peristalsis.
- Enterokliza
Which means: two-contrast examination of the small intestine.
Interpretation: a mixture of gas and contrast agent is administered through a special enteral tube for even more accurate diagnosis of small intestine diseases.
- Gastrointestinal perforation on X-ray of the abdominal cavity
Which means: perforation is a hole, a defect; a gastrointestinal perforation means that one section of the digestive tract (most often the stomach or intestine) has developed a hole.
Interpretation: The most common causes of perforation include the developing tumor or inflammation, and there are also perforations after surgery.
- Fluid levels on X-ray of the abdominal cavity
What they mean: To recognize your fluid levels means that the boundary between your gut gas and your gut fluid is shown by X-ray.
Interpretation: The presence of X-ray fluid levels is characteristic of gastrointestinal obstruction.
Learn more about congenital gastrointestinal obstruction
- Large intestine distension on X-ray of the abdominal cavity
Which means: Bloating means the walls of the intestine become puffed up or thrust apart as a result of the accumulation of gas in the intestines.
Interpretation: distension of the large intestine is characteristic of an obstruction, as a result of stagnant intestinal passage, an accumulation of intestinal gas occurs.
- Megacolon toxicum on X-ray of the abdominal cavity
Which means: megacolon toxicum, or acute distension of the colon most often affects the transverse colon and means a significant widening of the intestine (more than 6 cm).
Interpretation: The condition is a potentially fatal complication of ulcerative colitis and pseudomembranous colitis.
Find out about the most common causes of pseudomembranous enteritis
- X-ray of the abdominal cavity in the shadow surplus of the stomach wall
What it means: a shadow surplus that protrudes beyond the outline of the stomach indicates the presence of an ulcer niche.
Interpretation: symptom indicates gastric ulcer.
Find out what symptoms indicate gastric ulcer
- X-ray stenosis of the abdominal cavity
Which means: stenosis is also known as stenosis.
Interpretation: Stenosis may result from scarring or fibrosis in the gastrointestinal tract, often resulting in obstruction.
- Filling defects on X-ray of the abdominal cavity
What they mean: cavities indicate that a part of the digestive tract is not contrasting.
Interpretation: they most often indicate the presence of a tumor or a foreign body in the digestive tract.
Read more about foreign bodies in the stomach
- Image of “paving stones” on the X-ray of the abdominal cavity
What it means: the picture shows the presence of linear and deep ulcers in the swollen mucosa of the intestine.
Interpretation: the image is characteristic of Crohn’s disease.
- Image of “rose thorns” on X-ray of the abdominal cavity
Which means: an image of deep ulcers that penetrate deep into the intestinal wall.
Interpretation: the image is characteristic of Crohn’s disease.
Also see how Crohn’s disease is treated
- Symptom of “strings” in the X-ray of the abdominal cavity
What it means: indicates the presence of fistulas along with stiffness and narrowing of the bowel wall.
Interpretation: the image is characteristic of advanced Crohn’s disease.
- X-ray examinations of the abdominal cavity
What they mean: the illustrations mean the characteristic bulges of the large intestine wall, they are a physiological phenomenon.
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