Transabdominal sonography of the gastrointestinal tract.
Like other cross-sectional imaging methods, transabdominal sonography is increasingly used for evaluation of gastrointestinal diseases. The potentials and limitations of sonography in evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract are discussed. Transabdominal sonography proved to be of clinical value in assessment of appendicitis, diverticulitis, bowel obstruction, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, intussusception and infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The sonographic morphology of the most common gastrointestinal diseases is discussed. In experienced hands sonography can be used as primary imaging in several gastrointestinal diseases. The gastrointestinal tract should be included in the sonographic examination of the abdomen, especially if symptoms could be related to the intestine.
Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Hospital of the Brothers of St. John Salzburg, Kajetanerplatz 1, Austria. norbert.gritzmann@bbsalz.at
Norbert
N
Gritzmann
Alois
A
Hollerweger
Peter
P
Macheiner
Thomas
T
Rettenbacher
D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods