Abdominal Artifacts and Devices

Introduction

It is not unusual to see artifacts and surgical devices on abdminal plain film images. An unidentified appearance of an artifact or implanted device can be confusing and may, in some patients, result in further unneccesary imaging. This page provides examples of artifacts and devices commonly demonstrated on abdominal plain film imaging.

Stoma Bag Ring and Staples

This patient has had abdominal surgery. There are multiple metallic sutures (white arrow) and a stoma artifact (black arrow). Gall stones noted (not arrowed)

<a class="external" href="http://ucstory.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/my-pics-2-239.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <a class="external" href="http://ucstory.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/my-pics-2-239.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://ucstory.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/my-pics-2-239.jpg</a>	This is commonly referred to as a colostomy bag. It can present an artifact from the colostomy bag itself and/or from the contents of the bag.
<a class="external" href="http://www.rothhomehealth.com/resource/products/Images/11152-1.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.rothhomehealth.com/resource/products/Images/11152-1.jpg</a>	The ring appearance seen on abdominal plain film associated with patients wih a colostomy bag is a shadow of the hard plastic ring (arrowed) which the stoma bag attaches to.

<a class="external" href="http://beatingmycancer.org/images/staples.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://beatingmycancer.org/images/staples.jpg</a>

Metal staples are commonly used fur skin suturing of the anterior abdominal wall.

IVC Filter

The arrowed structure is an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter (? Günther Tulip filter, Cook Medical). IVC filters are most commonly used to prevent pulmonary embolism in patients with deep vein thrombosis. The IVC filter is designed to catch large thrombus preventing it from progressing to the pulmonary arteries <a class="external" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/ba/Mar07_090.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/ba/Mar07_090.jpg</a>

Aortic Endovascular Stent

	This patient has an aortic endovascular stent (arrowed). These stents are commonly employed to treat abdmininal aortic aneurysm (EVAR - endovascular aneurysm repair). Also noted pelvic phleboliths costal cartilidge calcification basal lung disease skin folds overlying lateral aspect of liver
adapted from <a class="external" href="http://www.aorticstents.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.aorticstents.com/</a>	This is an endovascular stent with 'trouser legs'. The two legs are deployed into the lumens of the common iliac arteries.

Biliary and Renal Stent

	This is a DR erect abdominal plain film. The image demonstrates the following biliary stent x 2 (white arrows) Renal stent (black arrow) metallic sutures (grey arrow) Note patient probably has small bowel obstruction
Biliary Stent source: <a class="external" href="http://www.tradekorea.com/products/Stent.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.tradekorea.com/products/Stent.html</a>	One of the biliary stents is a wire stent. This stent has been deployed within the bile duct.
Source: <a class="external" href="http://www.cookmedical.com/esc/dataSheet.do?id=1240" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.cookmedical.com/esc/dataSheet.do?id=1240</a>	This is a biliary stent which is also used to drain obstructed biliary ducts.
Source: <a class="external" href="http://www.bioteque.com/images/products/ul/pigtailuretheralstent-nostring.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.bioteque.com/images/products/ul/pigtailuretheralstent-nostring.jpg</a>	This is one end of a ureteric stent that is commonly refered to as a double J stent.