OVERVIEW: What every practitioner needs to know Are you sure your patient has community-acquired pneumonia? What are the typical findings for this disease? The common signs and symptoms associated with pneumonia in children vary by age, responsible pathogen, and severity of the infection. For the majority of children with pneumonia, the triad of fever, cough,…
At a Glance Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a potentially life-threatening disorder that involves a pathological activation of coagulation system. This clinical syndrome can be triggered by a variety of disorders that lead to the formation of widespread intravascular thrombosis. Depending on the underlying condition, two clinical forms of DIC have been described: acute (decompensated)…
At a Glance The term porphyria refers to a group of disorders in which porphyrins (or their precursors) accumulate in body fluids and tissues. All but one of the porphyrias is hereditary. Each disease is caused by a partial deficiency in one of the enzymes of heme synthesis. With the exception of two very rare…
OVERVIEW: What every practitioner needs to know Are you sure your patient has bacterial meningitis? What should you expect to find? Patients usually present with fever (which may be absent in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents) accompanied by meningeal symptoms and the physical findings indicative of meningitis. Headache. A generalized headache is the rule. A more…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Hydrocephalus I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis Noncontrast CT of the brain II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of hydrocephalus. Advantages Less expensive and faster to perform than MR imaging Disadvantages Exposes patients to ionizing radiation III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis 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 hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Advantages Fast and portable imaging modality Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation Disadvantages Less sensitive and specific in diagnosing a primary pulmonary…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Ectopic Pregnancy I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? The first line imaging modality is a Gray Scale and Color Doppler sonographic evaluation of the pelvis (transvaginal and/or transabdominal). II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy. Advantages Sonographic imaging does not expose patients to ionizing…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Mastoiditis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis CT of the brain without contrast. CT Temporal Bone without contrast may additionally be performed for more coned down views of the mastoid air cells and associated temporal bone structures. II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of mastoiditis.…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Mastitis I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis Breast ultrasound using grayscale and Doppler technique II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of mastitis. Advantages Can be diagnostic of mastitis, but oftentimes a biopsy is required to distinguish from inflammatory breast carcinoma Optimal technique for guiding breast…
Preliminary Diagnosis: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis? CT of the chest with intravenous contrast II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer. Advantages Can adequately assess the T stage of the tumor Useful for identifying pleural nodules, pleural plaques,…
