Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Flashcards
7 cards from real ICVA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging flashcards as text
In computed tomography (CT), Hounsfield units (HU) are used to measure:
Answer: Electron density relative to water
Hounsfield units quantify the electron density of tissues relative to water (0 HU), with air at -1000 HU and bone at +1000 HU or higher.
Which of the following best describes the appearance of acute hemorrhage on T1-weighted MRI?
Answer: Hypointense (dark)
Acute hemorrhage (oxyhemoglobin stage, <24 hours) appears hypointense on T1-weighted images due to the paramagnetic properties of intact red blood cells.
Nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan) in veterinary patients primarily detects:
Answer: Areas of increased osteoblastic activity
Bone scintigraphy using technetium-99m phosphonate complexes detects areas of increased osteoblastic activity and bone remodeling, highlighting active lesions.
A dog presents with a caudal abdominal mass. Ultrasound shows a large structure with multiple anechoic compartments separated by hyperechoic septa. This finding is MOST consistent with:
Answer: Multiloculated cystic structure
Multiple anechoic compartments separated by hyperechoic septa describe a multiloculated cystic structure, consistent with cystadenoma or multilocular cyst.
Which radiographic finding is most consistent with a left-sided congestive heart failure in a dog?
Answer: Pulmonary venous distension and perihilar interstitial to alveolar pattern
Left-sided CHF causes pulmonary venous hypertension leading to pulmonary edema, seen radiographically as distended pulmonary veins and a perihilar interstitial to alveolar pattern.
Fluoroscopy is most useful in veterinary medicine for evaluating:
Answer: Dynamic real-time motion studies such as swallowing
Fluoroscopy provides real-time continuous X-ray imaging, making it ideal for dynamic studies such as esophageal motility, swallowing function, and joint motion.
When performing abdominal radiography to detect free peritoneal gas (pneumoperitoneum), the MOST sensitive patient positioning is:
Answer: Left lateral recumbent with horizontal beam
Left lateral recumbency with a horizontal beam allows free gas to accumulate along the right lateral body wall between the liver and diaphragm, optimizing detection.