The A to Z of
Abdominal masses:
specific appearances
Dr. Shalini Govil
Radiology Department
CMC, Vellore
The A to Z of
Abdominal masses:
specific appearances
Dr. Shalini Govil
Radiology Department
CMC, Vellore
Achalasia
Dilated oesophagus
Food debris
Tapered GEJ
Adrenal myelolipoma
Fat on US / CT
&
Soft tissue (myeloid)
Bilateral multi-nodular low density adrenal masses
DD: granuloma / metastases
Adult polycystic kidney disease
B/L enlarged kidneys
Numerous cysts
No normal parenchyma
SOL effect on calyces
Broadening of infundibuli
Angiomyolipoma
-flow aneurysm-
Appendicular abscess
>6 mm diam = appendicitis
RIF collection
+/- appendix
Collection should lead to caecal
pole
>6 mm diam = appendicitis
RIF collection
+/- appendix
Collection should lead to caecal
pole
Appendicular cystadenocarcinoma
Widened low density lumen in RIF
Leads to caecal pole
Bracket ca+
+/- pseudomyxoma
Bezoar
Soft tissue density and mottled air
Negative cast of lumen
Bile duct stones
Radio opaque Radio lucent
Bladder leiomyoma
Obtuse angle with
lumen
Homogeneous
Solid
Muscle density
Smooth
Oval
Choledochal cyst
Fusiform biliary dilatation
Normal calibre peripheral ducts
Intrahepatic stones on US / MR
Abnormal PBJ
Crohn’s disease
Gradation of severity – skip lesions
Asymmetry – anti-mesenteric sacculations
Mesenteric longitudinal ulcers
“Creeping fat” – “Comb” sign
Inter loop fistulae
Coccoon
Colonic lipoma
“cottage loaf appearance” -
Liver herniation through a rent in the
diaphragm.
Cushing’s syndrome
Bilateral diffuse adrenal enlargement
Increased RP and IP fat
Multiple rib fractures
Exuberant callus
Diverticulosis
Blind pouches containing debris
No mucosal folds
Mushroom configuration
Diverticular abscess
“Saw tooth” sigmoid colon - LIF
Air and contrast within collection
Intramural tracking of contrast
Duodenal carcinoid
Enhancing
Vascular
Intramural / luminal
Enhancing duodenal / pancreatic mass: remember
neuroendocrine!
(Para) duodenal hernia
Enhancing
Vascular
Intramural / luminal
Enhancing duodenal / pancreatic mass: remember
neuroendocrine!
Duplication cyst
Gut signature
Enhancing mucosal folds
Blind
DUPLEX KIDNEY
2 URETERS
2 MOIETIES
Gangrene bowel
Air in mucosal folds
Dependent air
Circumferential air
Air in mesenteric veins / portal vein
Check splanchnic arteries and veins!
Coeliac artery thrombosis
GB carcinoma
GB fossa mass
If confined to lumen – mucosa will not be
discernible.
Sludge ball: no enhancement; may have moved since
US; turn patient; mucosa seen
Gallbladder carcinoma
Enhancing GB Wall
thickeningExtension into
liver
Enhancing GB wall
nodular
thickening
Ascites
Porcelain gallbladder
GIST / Leiomyosarcoma
Enhancing
Vascular
Intramural / luminal
Exophytic component
Enhancing
Vascular
Intramural / luminal
Exophytic component
GIST - stomach
Enhancing
Vascular
Intramural / luminal
Exophytic component
GIST – cystic type
Mesenteric cysts:
Duplication
Cystic tumours
BCT
Omphalo-mesenteric
Lymphatic
Haemangioma – para vertebral
Soft tissue density
Phleboliths
Mild enhancement
Well defined
Bright on T2 MRI
Haemangioma
liver
Hepatic FNH
Hepatic
adenoma
HCC
Hepatoblastoma
METASTASIS
Hydatid cysts liver
Daughter
cysts
calcification
Hydatid cyst liver
biliary communication
Amoebic abscess Pyogenic abscess
Hepatic Abscesses
Hiatus hernia
Widens oesophageal hiatus
GE junction sited above
ligamentum venosum
Gastric rugae seen above hiatus
Widens oesophageal hiatus
GE junction sited above
ligamentum venosum
Gastric rugae seen above hiatus
Intussusception
Crescent of mesenteric fat
Lead point 75% adults
Coiled spring
Target / Bull’s eye
Hayfork / trident
Insulinoma
Jejunal thickening
Perforation
Collection
Air fluid level
>3 mm
DD: Lymphoma / TB / Crohn’s/ Carcinoma /
ischemia / necrotising infection
Krukenberg lesions
Bilateral
Solid, fairly homogeneous
Oval
Well-defined
Soft tissue density
Leiomyoma - oesophagus
Obtuse angle with lumen
Homogeneous
Solid
Muscle density
Smooth
Leiomyoma - ileum
Obtuse angle with lumen
Homogeneous
Solid
Muscle density
Smooth
Oval
Lintus plastica
Rigid small capacity stomach
Thick wall
Intact mucosa
Primary / secondary
Omental cake & ascites can be seen in both
Liposarcoma
Fat and soft tissue density nodules
Insinuating
Encases and separates vessels
SOL effect on adjacent organs
Mg always a possibility
Lymphoma
Splenomegaly & splenic lesions
Homogeneous solid nodes
DD: TB
Lymphoma / TB
Mesenteric lymphoma
SANDWICH SIGN… seen in
– – vessels and fat sandwiched by adenopathy
Mesenteric carcinoidMesenteric carcinoid
•Desmoplastic process or
tethering process
•DD: radiation fibrosis,
adhesions
Mesenteric carcinoidMesenteric carcinoid
•Desmoplastic process or
tethering process
•DD: radiation fibrosis,
adhesions
Anterior sacral meningocoele
sacral defect
mass
Neuroblastoma
Midline and para vertberal solid
Encases major vessels
Ca+
Extends into spinal canal
Displaces bowel anteriorly, kidneys
laterally
Midline and para vertberal solid
Encases major vessels
Ca+
Extends into spinal canal
Displaces bowel anteriorly, kidneys
laterally
Omental cake
OVARIAN CARCINOMA
ULTRASOUND
Serous cystadenoma Serous cystadenocarcinoma
OVARIAN TUMOURS
Mucinous cystadenoma
Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma
OVARIAN CARCINOMA
CT
OVARIAN CARCINOMA
peritoneal metastases
PANCREATITIS - ACUTE NECROTISING
Low density areas lacking
enhancement
Extra-pancreatic fat necrosis –
mottled / bubbly soft tissue
Vessels seen “skeletonized”
Thickening of Gerota’s and
lateroconal fascia
Pancreatic abscess
Air within necrosis / collection
Remember fistula – check contiguous
bowel
Fever, raised WBC count, toxic
CHRONIC
PANCREATITIS
Pancreatic carcinoma
Soft tissue density
Infiltrates & encases RP structures
Loss of peri vascular fat sleeve
Disruption of ca+
Pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma
Solid, enhancing with central irregular low density
Thick irregular septae
Well defined
May be exophytic
Extends up to splenic vessels
DD: Gastric stromal tumour
Traumatic pancreatic transection
Portal and splenic vein thrombosis
Pelvic lipomatosis
Excess fat around the rectum, bladder,
ureters
Mass effect on rectal lumen, uterus / bladder
Peritoneal metastases
Ca colon
Perinephric abscess
Perinephric hematoma
Pheochromocytoma
PNET
Pseudomyxoma peritonei
PUJ obstruction
RCC
Rectal haemangioma
Renal AVM
Renal trauma
RETROPERITONEAL FIBROSIS
Mantle / plaques of peri-aortic soft
tissue density
Elevated duodenum
Encases aorta and origins
Compresses IVC
Collaterals
Medial ureteric deviation
Pseudo-RPF
(Cystic) Teratoma
Rokitansky nodule
Teratoma
fat-fluid level
(Immature) Teratoma
Tubo-ovarian abscess
Tuberous sclerosis
TCC KIDNEY
CORONAL MPR
TCC BLADDER WITH INVOLVEMENT
OF RIGHT DISTAL URETER
Uterine fibroid
Uterine: CERVICAL CARCINOMA
Vaginal extensionVaginal extension
Myometrial extension
Uterine: ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMAUterine: ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA
Vascular: aorto-arteritis
Vascular: aortic aneurysm
*Contrast =
aorta
*Unopacified =
thrombus
*Perianeurysmal
fibrosis
*Subacute leak
– soft tissue
density
*Contrast =
aorta
*Unopacified =
thrombus
*Perianeurysmal
fibrosis
*Subacute leak
– soft tissue
density
Vascular: Pseudo aneurysm of
Splenic artery
contrast
filled
aneurysm
lumen
contrast
filled
aneurysm
lumen
thrombus
Vascular: Intra-renal pseudo
aneurysm
Vascular: IVC leiomyosarcoma
Vascular: SMA SYNDROME
Beaking of 3rd part of duodenum
between SMA and aorta
Dilated duodenum and stomach
Debris in stomach
Normal duodenal wall
No RP pathology
VHL
Wilm’s tumour

Abdominal mass shalini govil