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Purpose
The use of abdominal signs as memory devices for the clinician or student inexperienced in reviewing abdominal radiographs can be extremely useful. The association of pathological appearances with signs familiar to the student promotes recognition and retention of important diseases and allow further understanding of the radiographic causes of these signs.
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Background
For junior doctors, who review abdominal imaging on an infrequent basis, the abdominal radiograph is fraught with difficulty, they may struggle to systemically review structures, fail to recognise and misinterpret abnormal images, and have problems identifying common underlying gastrointestinal pathology that cause these appearances. The use of characteristic patterns, also known as radiographic signs, are useful visual aide-memoirs for recognising abdominal pathology. Understanding how these...
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Learning objectives
Awareness of the common named visual signs that present in abdominal radiography. Understand the physiological and anatomical causes behind these appearances. Understand the association of various signs with common gastrointestinal pathology
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Imaging findings OR Procedure findings
We describe and display the signs frequently found in abdominal radiographs, with explanation of their appearances, and their associated diseases. The football sign – This is found in necrotising enterocolitis and upper gastrointestinal perforation such as endoscopic and gastric ulcer perforation. The appearance is caused by massive peritoneum with movement of air anterior to the abdominal viscera with compression against the diaphragm and pelvic floor, giving its ovoid shape. The appearance...