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Pathology Recognition Flashcards

7 cards from real ARRT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Pathology Recognition flashcards as text

  1. A contrast CT of the abdomen shows a 'whirl sign' in the mesentery. What condition does this indicate?

    Answer: Closed-loop small bowel obstruction with volvulus

    The whirl sign on CT represents twisting of mesenteric vessels and bowel loops, indicating volvulus typically causing closed-loop obstruction.

  2. Which CT finding most reliably indicates complicated acute pancreatitis?

    Answer: Pancreatic necrosis (non-enhancing parenchyma)

    Pancreatic necrosis, identified as non-enhancing parenchyma after IV contrast, is the defining feature of necrotizing pancreatitis.

  3. On CT of the head, lenticular (biconvex) hyperdensity is identified adjacent to the temporal bone. What is the most likely cause?

    Answer: Middle meningeal artery rupture causing epidural hematoma

    Epidural hematomas result from middle meningeal artery injury and form a biconvex hyperdense collection limited by dural attachments at sutures.

  4. A CT chest shows multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules of varying sizes in a 'cannonball' distribution. This pattern is most associated with:

    Answer: Hematogenous pulmonary metastases

    Large, well-defined, randomly distributed bilateral nodules in a cannonball pattern are classic for hematogenous metastases from extrapulmonary primary cancers.

  5. CT of the knee shows a hyperdense line through the distal femoral epiphysis crossing the growth plate. This finding represents:

    Answer: Salter-Harris type II fracture

    A Salter-Harris type II fracture extends through the physis and exits through the metaphysis, the most common physeal injury type.

  6. Which CT feature differentiates an acute from a chronic subdural hematoma?

    Answer: Hypodense (low attenuation) appearance of the collection

    Chronic subdural hematomas become hypodense (isodense to CSF) over weeks as hemoglobin degrades, unlike acute hyperdense collections.

  7. A CT abdomen in a trauma patient shows high-density fluid in the hepatorenal space (Morison's pouch). What does this indicate?

    Answer: Hemoperitoneum

    High-attenuation free fluid (>30 HU) in Morison's pouch following trauma indicates hemoperitoneum from solid organ or vascular injury.