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30 High-Yield GIT Radiology Viva Questions (MD Exam)
Plain Abdominal Radiograph (AXR)
1. What are the indications for a plain abdominal X-ray (AXR) in the acute abdomen?
Suspected viscus perforation, bowel obstruction, assessment of bowel wall pattern (ischaemia/colitis), and detection of intra-abdominal foreign bodies.
— Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology
2. How do you differentiate small bowel from large bowel on a plain AXR?
- Small bowel: centrally located, multiple loops, thin and frequent valvulae conniventes (cross the full width of the lumen), calibre <3 cm
- Large bowel: peripheral, haustral folds (partial, do not cross full width), calibre >6 cm (>9 cm caecum)
3. What is Rigler's sign (double wall sign)?
On a supine AXR, gas on both sides of the bowel wall makes the wall visible. Normally only the inner (mucosal) surface is seen because gas must be outside the bowel (pneumoperitoneum) to outline the outer wall. It is diagnostic of pneumoperitoneum.
— Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology
4. What are the radiological signs of pneumoperitoneum on a supine AXR?
- Rigler's (double wall) sign
- Right upper quadrant gas (perihepatic, subhepatic, Morrison's pouch)
- Fissure for ligamentum teres
- Gas outlining falciform ligament
- Cupola sign (gas collecting under the central diaphragm)
- Football sign (large pneumoperitoneum in neonates)
5. What conditions can simulate pneumoperitoneum (pseudo-pneumoperitoneum)?
- Chilaiditi syndrome (colon interposed between liver and diaphragm)
- Subphrenic abscess
- Curvilinear atelectasis
- Diaphragmatic irregularity/multiple humps
- Subdiaphragmatic fat
- Cysts in pneumatosis intestinalis
— Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology
6. What percentage of perforated peptic ulcers show free gas on erect CXR, and where is it best seen?
Approximately 70% of perforated peptic ulcers show free gas. It is best seen under the right hemidiaphragm on an erect CXR, which outlines the smooth surface of the liver clearly.
7. What is pneumatosis intestinalis, and what is its significance?
Gas within the bowel wall (intramural gas). It may be benign (e.g., pneumatosis coli associated with COPD) or life-threatening (bowel ischaemia/infarction). In the context of ischaemia, it is associated with portal venous gas and carries a high mortality. Clinical correlation with serum lactate and CRP is essential.
— Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology
8. How do you distinguish portal venous gas from pneumobilia on AXR/CT?
- Portal venous gas: peripherally located in small vessels at the liver edge
- Pneumobilia: centrally located, branching pattern, more prominent centrally
On CT, this distinction is reliable; on plain AXR it can be difficult.
Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO)
9. What are the plain radiograph findings in small bowel obstruction (SBO)?
- Dilated central loops of small bowel (>3 cm) with valvulae conniventes
- Air-fluid levels on erect AXR (step-ladder pattern)
- String of beads sign (gas bubbles trapped between valvulae in fluid-filled loops — virtually diagnostic of SBO)
- Paucity of gas in the large bowel
- Sensitivity of plain AXR for SBO is approximately 66%
10. What is the 'string of beads' sign?
A line of small gas bubbles trapped between valvulae conniventes in an almost completely fluid-filled, grossly dilated small bowel. It is virtually diagnostic of small bowel obstruction.
— Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology
11. What is gallstone ileus, and what is the classic radiological triad (Rigler's triad)?
Gallstone ileus is SBO caused by a large gallstone (usually 2–3 cm) that erodes through the gallbladder wall into the duodenum, bypassing the bile duct, and impacts in the terminal ileum.
Rigler's triad:
- Small bowel obstruction
- Pneumobilia (gas in the biliary tree)
- Ectopic calcified gallstone (seen in ~1/3 of cases)
Accounts for ~2% of SBO cases.
Large Bowel Obstruction (LBO)
12. What are the radiological findings of large bowel obstruction?
- Dilatation of colon proximal to the obstruction (haustral pattern visible)
- Caecal diameter >9 cm is a critical threshold (risk of perforation)
- Cut-off point at the level of obstruction
- Competent ileocaecal valve causes closed-loop obstruction with gross caecal dilatation
13. What is sigmoid volvulus, and what are its radiological features?
Sigmoid volvulus is twisting of the sigmoid colon on its mesenteric axis causing closed-loop obstruction.
- Plain AXR: "coffee bean" or "bent inner tube" sign — a massively dilated ahaustral sigmoid loop bent on itself, pointing toward the right upper quadrant
- Barium enema/CT: "bird's beak" / "ace of spades" deformity at the level of the twist
14. What is caecal volvulus, and how does it differ radiologically from sigmoid volvulus?
Caecal volvulus: the caecum rotates and may appear in the mid-abdomen or left upper quadrant as a kidney-shaped gas shadow. The distal colon and rectum are collapsed. Unlike sigmoid volvulus, the apex points toward the left upper quadrant. Less common than sigmoid volvulus.
Contrast Studies
15. What are the indications and contraindications of a barium swallow?
Indications: dysphagia, suspected oesophageal perforation (use water-soluble contrast first), motility disorders, hiatus hernia, strictures, achalasia
Contraindications: suspected perforation (barium is contraindicated — use water-soluble Gastrografin); tracheo-oesophageal fistula (use non-ionic water-soluble contrast)
16. What is the 'rat tail' appearance on barium swallow, and what causes it?
A smooth, tapered narrowing of the distal oesophagus resembling a rat's tail. It is the classic appearance of achalasia, caused by failure of relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter with proximal dilatation. Carcinoma of the oesophagus produces an irregular, shouldered (shouldering) stricture — not smooth.
17. What is the difference between a 'shouldered' vs. 'tapering' stricture on barium swallow?
- Shouldered / shelf-like / apple core: abrupt transition, irregular mucosa — suggests malignancy
- Smooth tapering: gradual transition, intact mucosa — suggests benign stricture (peptic, Schatzki ring) or achalasia
18. What is a barium meal (upper GI series), and what conditions does it diagnose?
Fluoroscopic study with barium to examine the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum. It diagnoses peptic ulcer disease, gastric carcinoma, pyloric stenosis, hiatal hernia, and motility disorders. A double-contrast technique (barium + gas) gives better mucosal detail.
19. What are the radiological features of a benign vs. malignant gastric ulcer on barium meal?
| Feature | Benign | Malignant |
|---|
| Projection | Projects beyond gastric wall | Within gastric lumen |
| Margins | Smooth, regular | Irregular, nodular |
| Mucosal folds | Radiate to ulcer edge | Amputated, clubbed folds |
| Shape | Round/oval | Irregular |
| Hampton's line | Present (1–2 mm line across ulcer neck) | Absent |
20. What is small bowel follow-through (SBFT) / enteroclysis, and what does it assess?
- SBFT: patient drinks barium, serial images taken to follow transit through small bowel
- Enteroclysis (small bowel enema): barium introduced via nasojejunal tube — superior mucosal detail
Both assess Crohn's disease, small bowel tumours, malabsorption, obstruction.
21. What is the 'string sign of Kantor' on SBFT?
A thin, thread-like band of contrast in the terminal ileum caused by severe spasm and mucosal thickening in Crohn's disease. Represents tight luminal narrowing from chronic transmural inflammation.
22. What are the radiological features of Crohn's disease on barium studies?
- Cobblestone mucosa (transverse and longitudinal ulcers with intact mucosa between)
- Fistulae and sinus tracts
- Skip lesions
- String sign (tight stricture)
- Rose-thorn ulcers (deep fissuring ulcers)
- Thumbprinting (less common than in ischaemic colitis)
23. What is a barium enema, and what are its indications?
Fluoroscopic study of the colon via rectal instillation of barium. Indications: change in bowel habit, suspected colonic carcinoma, diverticular disease, colitis, strictures, fistulae, and reduction of intussusception (air enema now preferred). Largely replaced by CT colonography and colonoscopy.
24. What is the 'apple core' sign on barium enema?
An annular ("apple core") stricture with irregular, shouldered edges and mucosal destruction. It is the classic appearance of carcinoma of the colon, most commonly in the sigmoid or descending colon.
25. What is thumbprinting on AXR/barium enema, and what does it indicate?
Smooth, rounded indentations on the colonic wall resembling a thumb print caused by submucosal oedema, haemorrhage, or tumour infiltration. Classic causes:
- Ischaemic colitis (most classic)
- Acute severe ulcerative colitis
- Lymphoma
- Hereditary angio-oedema
CT & Ultrasound of the GIT
26. What are the CT features of acute appendicitis?
- Appendix diameter >6 mm with wall thickening (>2 mm)
- Periappendiceal fat stranding
- Appendicolith (calcified faecolith in ~25–30%)
- Peri-appendiceal fluid
- "Target sign" (thickened wall with enhancement)
- Perforation: free gas, abscess
27. What is the CT 'whirl sign' and 'beak sign', and in what condition are they seen?
Both are seen in intestinal volvulus/closed-loop obstruction:
- Whirl sign: spiralling of mesentery, bowel, and vessels around a fixed point — indicates torsion
- Beak sign: tapered narrowing of bowel at the point of torsion resembling a bird's beak
28. What are the ultrasound features of intussusception?
- "Target" or "doughnut" sign on transverse view: outer hypoechoic ring (oedematous bowel) surrounding an echogenic centre (intussuscepted bowel)
- "Pseudokidney" sign on longitudinal view: the intussusceptum within the intussuscipiens resembles a kidney
Ultrasound is the investigation of choice in paediatric intussusception; sensitivity >97%.
29. What is the role of CT in gastrointestinal haemorrhage?
CT angiography (CTA) detects active bleeding at rates as low as 0.3–0.5 mL/min (vs. 0.5–1 mL/min for conventional angiography and 1 mL/min for nuclear scintigraphy). CT shows:
- Hyperattenuating blush of contrast within the lumen indicating active bleeding
- Can identify the source (e.g., diverticulum, angiodysplasia, tumour)
- Guides surgical or interventional management
30. What is MRCP, and what are its advantages over ERCP in biliary imaging?
Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non-invasive MRI technique using heavily T2-weighted sequences to visualise bile ducts and pancreatic ducts.
Advantages over ERCP:
- Non-invasive (no contrast injection, no radiation)
- No risk of pancreatitis, cholangitis, or perforation
- Can visualise ducts proximal to a complete obstruction
- Overall accuracy >90% for choledocholithiasis
Limitation: purely diagnostic (no therapeutic capability); ERCP remains the gold standard for therapeutic intervention (stone extraction, stenting).
Sources: Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology, Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, Yamada's Textbook of Gastroenterology
These 30 questions cover the core themes examiners target in GIT radiology vivas: plain film interpretation, contrast studies (barium), CT/US findings, and classic radiological signs. Good luck with your MD exam!