2004, Number 4
Calcificaciones abdominales
Motta RGA, Pérez RJA, Ventura BZA
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 12
Page: 245-258
PDF size: 763.18 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Abdomen X-ray (AR) is the initial image study in patients with abdomen-pelvic pain. X-rays represent the different radiological densities of the normal abdomen components. Calcium density (radiodensity) is only found in bone structures, in such a way that a calcium deposit in soft tissues presents several distinctive properties, such as: location, size, contours, mobility, and morphology, which, along with the age of the patient, enable us to gather information from the AR to determine its origin, space anatomical location and possible contribution to the patient’s symptomatology.Picio-pathology: Calcium deposits (calcification) present minimum differences with the deposits of hyperdense material (contrast means) in tissues or cavities. The heterotropic formation of the bone is the process by means of which the new, nonneoplastic bone is formed in tissues that will not usually ossify. In general, these are microscopic calcifications that are not seen in abdominal radiological studies, except when they are located in the kidney, vessel walls or connective tissue. Distrophic calcifications may develop be due to trauma, ischemia or other pathology, with normal calcium levels.
Classification: The morphology and internal structure of a calcification provide interesting information to locate them inside hollow organs or outside them (solid organs, mesenterium or free in the peritoneal cavity). Intra-abdominal location and their relation with anatomic structures where they are specifically projected are important features that facilitate the study of each calcification type and its origin. They are addressed as: vascular calcifications, mesenteric ganglia calcifications, calcifications in the gall-bladder, calcifications in pancreas, pelvis calcifications, cystic calcifications, renal calcifications, uretero-vesical calcifications, enteric calcifications, tumor-like calcifications and others.
Conclusion: Radiologist must be proficient in knowing the basic features of a calcification in the AR so that they may contribute with specific information to the final nosologic diagnosis.
REFERENCES