UCSD Musculoskeletal Radiology

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Critical results

When to call

 

   
   

 

Anatomical Area

Red Category Conditions*

 

Complete Alert within 1 hour

CNS

Cerebral hemorrhage/hematoma

Brain tumor (mass effect)

Acute stroke

Acute obstructive hydrocephalus

Depressed skull fracture

Cervical spine fracture

Spinal cord compression

Orbital injury

Cerebral aneurysm

Neck

Epiglotitis

Carotid artery dissection

 

Paratracheal abscess

 

Breast

Breast abscess

Chest

Tension pneumothorax

New pneumothorax

Aortic dissection (new or changed)

Pulmonary embolism

Ruptured aneursym or impending rupture

Mediatstinal emphysema

New pneumonia

New evidence of TB

 

Abdomen

Free Air in abdomen (if no recent surgeries within seven days)

Ischemic bowel

 

Portal venous air

Volvulus

Traumatic visceral injury

Retroperitoneal hemorrhage, new or active bleding

 

Aortic aneurysm, leaking

Hemoperitoneum, new and unexpected

 

 

Uro-genital

Ectopic pregnancy

Placental abruption (2nd and 3rd trimester)

 

Testicular or ovarian Torsion

 

Vascular

 

 

 

 

 

Bone

Any new spinal fracture involving mechanical or neurological stability

 

Suspected septic arthritis or osteomyelitis

 

Any new spinal tumor affecting mechanical or neurological stability

 

New Joint dislocation

General

Significant Line/ or Tube misplacement (e.g. feeding tube in airway)

Any significant test re-read, resulting in a different diagnostic impression

Unexpected abscess

 Nuclear Medicine

Liver function study with HIDA agents, showing "acute cholecystitis" or "bile leak"

 

Acute gastrointestinal blood loss imaging

 

Pulmonary perfusion imaging with aerosol ventilation imaging

 

Brain imaging vascular flow (for brain death)

 

Kidney imaging with vascular flow and function (Renal Transplant Evaluation)- with acute abnormality

 

Testicular imaging with vascular flow- with acute abnormality