We present multiple cases that had significant findings on the scout images,
many of which are not included in the FOV of the CT or MRI images. This demonstrates the importance of routine inspection of the scout images.
Case 1 (Fig.
1)
80 year-old male with normal pressure hydrocephalus.
The scout image shows a foreign body projecting over the epiglottis/larynx (Fig A and B),
not seen on the CT brain images.
Previous CT scout views show the dentures in their previous normal location (Fig.C and D).
Case 2 (Fig.
2)
78 year-old male with head trauma.
The scout images of the CTA show tension pneumothorax and fracture of right sided ribs and left humerus (Fig A). The CTA images showed only apical pneumothorax (Fig B). STAT chest tube insertion was performed.
Post-procedure radiograph (Fig.C) shows no evidence of residual pneumothorax.
Case 3 (Fig.
3)
63 year-old female,
for metastatic work-up.
On the AP and lateral scout images of the CT abdomen and pelvis (Fig.A and B),
there is a metallic foreign body in the abdomen,
chest and neck,
which turned out to be a wire from a prior endovascular preocedure.
AP view pre-conventional angiogram/procedure showing the guide wire (Fig.
C). The wire was successfully snared and removed. Post procedure CT Chest scout (Fig D) showing that the wire was removed.
Case 4 (Fig.
4)
28 year-old male with trauma.
Scout view of the CT chest/abdomen (Fig A) shows comminuted fractures of the right distal humerus and mid ulna. Dedicated radiographs (Fig.B and C) confirm scout findings.
Case 5 (FIG.5)
80 year-old male patient,
for stroke work-up.
Scout view of the CT head shows a right shoulder dislocation (Fig.A).
Dedicated radiographs of the right shoulder confirmed an anterior dislocation (Fig.B).
Case 6:(FIG.6)
62 year-old female,
for metastatic work-up.
CT head scout image shows left arm swelling and irregular outline of the left breast,
suspicious for a breast mass and lymphadema (Fig.A).
Follow-up dedicated CT chest shows a large left breast mass and lymphedema of the arm,
corresponding to the scout findings (Fig.B).
Case 7: (FIG.
7)
63 year-old female patient with head trauma.
CT head scout image shows significant anterolisthesis of C6 over C7,
suspicious for traumatic injury (Fig.A).
MRI cervical spine confirms anterolisthesis of C6 over C7 and multiple C6 fractures (Fig.B).
Post spinal fixation radiograph demonstrates satisfactory alignment (Fig.C).
Case 8:(FIG.8)
57 year-old male patient,
for metastatic work-up.
On the scout view of the thoracic spine, there is a large mass at the right lung apex (Fig.A).
Chest radiograph (Fig.B) and chest CT (Fig.C) confirm a large right lung mass,
eventually proven to be lung carcinoma.
Case 9: (FIG.9)
45 year-old male with back pain.
Scout view of the MRI lumbar spine shows an exophytic mass arising from the left kidney (Fig.A).
Subsequent abdominal ultrasound (Fig.B) and CT (Fig.C) confirm the presence of a solid mass in the left kidney,
eventually proved to be a renal cell carcinoma.
Case 10: (FIG.10)
73 year-old female,
history of colon cancer presenting with low back pain.
Scout views of the total spine MRI shows a mass in the left lung,
subsequently proven to be a second primary malignancy (Fig.A).
There is also a bone metastasis in the L2 vertebral body (Fig.B).
Case 11: (FIG.11)
47 year-old male with metastatic melanoma and severe back pain.
Scout images of the MRI lumbar spine show multiple liver lesions,
suspicious for metastases (Fig A).
There are also multiple spinal metastases (Fig.B,
C).
CT abdomen confirms multiple liver metastases (Fig.C).
Case 12:(FIG.12)
70 year-old female with back pain.
Scout images of the MRI lumbar spine show absence of the right kidney.
The patient was found to have a solitary kidney (Fig.A,
B).
Case 13:(FIG.13)
72 year-old male with left hemibody numbness and weakness.
Suspected CVA.
CT head and scout images show multiple punched out lesions (Fig.A,
B,
C).
The patient was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and found to have a lower thoracic cord compression,
explaining the initial clinical presentation.
Case 14:(FIG.14)
72 year-old male with trauma.
CT head scout images show a calculus in the right submandibular duct (Fig.
A,
B), better seen on the cervical spine CT (Fig.C,
D).
Case 15:(FIG.15)
20 year-old male with head trauma.
CT head scout image shows extensive neck subcutaneous emphysema (Fig.
A).
The subsequent chest radiograph (Fig B) and CT chest (Fig.C,
D,
E) show pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax (Fig.B).
Case 16:(FIG.16)
86 year-old female with trauma.
CTA scout images show massive cardiomegaly with left sided pleural efusion (Fig.A).
CTA of the neck shows fracture of the right lateral mass of C1 with extension into the transverse foramen and dissection of the right vertebral artery (Fig.B).
Case 17:(FIG.17)
28 year-old male patient with trauma.
CT head scout image demonstrates a left clavicular fracture (Fig.A).
Dedicated radiographs confirm the fracture (Fig.B). There is also a comminuted fracture of the left coracoid process (Fig.B).
Case 18:(FIG.18)
13 year-old female with left femur malrotation.
CT thighs scout image demonstrates a visible difference in the length of the lower extremities,
with the right longer than left (Fig.A).
This appears to be on the basis of a shorter and slightly bowed left femur. Measurements were performed on both sides,
using the scout image (Fig.B).
Case 19:(FIG.19)
27 year-old male with polytrauma.
CT chest/abdomen scout image shows complex fractures of the left humerus and ulna (Fig.A).
Subsequent radiograph and CT of the left upper limb confirms comminuted fractures of the left humerus and displaced fracture of the olecranon and proximal diaphysis of the left ulna (Fig.B,
C).
Case 20:(FIG.20)
69 year-old male with left shoulder pain.
CT left shoulder scout images show multiple hyperdensities projecting over the orbits (Fig.A).
Subsequent CT head shows presence of lipiodol (no longer in use) retained in the intracranial subarachnoid spaces (Fig.B) from prior myelography.