title: Abdominal calcifications and diagnostic imaging decision making: a topic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review commonly encountered calcifications found within the abdomen as seen on the lumbar spine radiograph and to determine which advanced imaging modality is best to thoroughly assess the patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches of electronic databases and textbooks were conducted to construct this narrative overview.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By categorizing the type of calcification and localizing it anatomically, most often a definitive diagnosis can be reached. Two commonly encountered conditions, abdominal aortic aneurysms and urinary calculi, are used to compare the main advanced imaging modalities (diagnostic ultrasound and computed tomography) used to further assess abdominal calcifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In most circumstances, either diagnostic ultrasound or computed tomography will establish a definitive diagnosis and offer thorough imaging assessment for abdominal calcifications.
authors.affiliation: Director, Diagnostic Imaging Consultation, Associate Professor, Department of Diagnosis, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, Southern California University of Health Sciences.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bassano
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