title: [Detectability of intraperitoneal free air by ultrasonography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the role of ultrasonography in the detection of pneumoperitoneum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients who had been diagnosed as acute abdomen and pneumoperitoneum were evaluated by ultrasonography and direct radiographies. An additional ultrasonographic feature named "scissoring technique" was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had pneumoperitoneum in ultrasonographic and radiographic examination. The radiologic findings were verified with surgical results. The scissoring technique was found to be as accurate as other sonographic and radiographic sings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonography is a sensitive technique for diagnosing pneumoperitoneum and it can be safely used as a first line imaging modality. If future studies confirm, the scissoring technique can be used in the ultrasonographic diagnosis of the pneumoperitoneum.
authors.affiliation: Erciyes Universitesi Tip Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dali, 38280 Kayseri.
authors.forename: O Ibrahim
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Karahan
authors.forename: Alibekir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baykara
authors.forename: Abdulhakim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coşkun
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*