Ultrasonography of the Acute Abdomen

The initial radiologic evaluation of a patient with acute abdominal symptoms begins with plain abdominal radiographs. Plain abdominal radiographs are helpful for the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction and pneumoperitoneum. However, cross-sectional imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography or computed tomography, are necessary for specific diagnosis of acute abdomen. Ultrasonography is a non-invasive and comfortable tool for patients visiting emergency room. This article describes the ultrasonographic findings of most common diseases presenting with acute abdominal symptoms.

Assessment of Mesenteric Vascular Steno-occlusive Lesion in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia: Comparison between CT Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography

PURPOSE: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is one of the most dramatic abdominal emergencies. The most common cause of AMI is a thrombo-embolism of the mesenteric artery or vein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of CT angiography for evaluating mesenteric vascular steno-occlusive lesion in AMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with clinically and angiographically proven AMI underwent a two-phase CT. The CT angiographic images were reconstructed using a 3D rendering algorithm, such as the maximum intensity projection and volume-rendering. All the CT angiographic images were reviewed with respect to stenosis or occlusion of mesenteric vessel by the consensus of two radiologists, and were correlated with the findings of digital subtraction angiography. RESULTS:Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) visualized 60 mesenteric vessels including the superior mesenteric artery (n=15) and vein (n=15), and the inferior mesenteric artery (n=15) and vein (n=15). DSA showed steno-occlusive lesions in 16 mesenteric vessels (13 superior mesenteric arteries, two superior mesenteric veins, and one inferior mesenteric artery). CT angiography detected steno-occlusive lesions in 16 mesenteric vessels (12 superior mesenteric arteries, one superior mesenteric vein, and three inferior mesenteric arteries). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT angiography for evaluating mesenteric vascular steno-occlusive lesion were 87.5%, 95.4%, and 93.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CT angiography is an useful adjunct to abdominal CT in an AMI setting on account of its ability to detect the causes of AMI such as a steno-occlusive lesion of the mesenteric vessel.

Imaging Findings of Acute Abdomen with Intraperitoneal Tuberculosis

Acute abdomen caused by abdominal tuberculosis is a rare manifestation, and includes bleeding of a gastric or ileal ulcer, obstruction of the small bowel by an adhesive band, perforation of the ileum, ileocolic intussusception and fistula, and mesenteric abscesses caused by necrotic lymph nodes. The clinical and radiologic features of these complicated tuberculosis may mimic other acute abdominal diseases. Although not definitive, careful evaluation of the radiologic findings of the bowel wall, mesenteric fat infiltration, and lymph node enlargement may provide useful diagnostic clues to the presence of acute abdomen due to tuberculosis.

Radiologic Findings of Primary Epiploic Appendagitis: Focused on the Ultrasonographic Findings

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the radiologic findings of primary epiploic appendagitis, with particular attention to the correlation of ultrasonographic, clinical, CT, MR and surgical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 14 patients with primary epiploic appendagitis who presented with the rapid onset of a very localized pain and tenderness, we performed ultrasonography in all, CT in eight, and MRI in four of these eight. Surgery was performed in two patients. Follow-up examinations were performed using US, CT and MRI (n=2), US and CT (n=2), US alone (n=2), and with regard to clinical features (n=12). RESULTS: US performed in 14 patients revealed the presence in all of small, well-defined, ovoid, noncompressible hyperechoic (n=12) or isoechoic (n=2) solid masses attached to the colonic wall, without bowel wall change and without communication with bowel lumen. CT performed in 8 patients showed varying hyperattenuating fatty lesions in the same location in the abdomen, without other inflammatory process. MRI findings of four patients were helpful for further evaluation of internal architecture. CONCLUSION: In primary epiploic appendagitis, US findings were sufficiently characteristic to allow accurate diagnosis and valuable for the differential diagnosis of other acute conditions of the abdomen.

Primary Epiploic Appendagitis: 4 Case Report

Primary epiploic appendagitis of the colon is a rare cause of abdominal pain and is a self-limiting disease. Double contrast barium enema showed a smooth extrinsic compression located anterolateraly to the involved colon. Ultrasonography revealed a non-compressible echogenic ovoid mass attached to the colon wall. On abdominal CT, all lesions were seen as pedunculated ovel fatty masses with surrounding streaky densities connected to the serosal surface of the adjacent colon. Follow up CT performed 13-25(mean 18) days later showed that during this intrval, the volume of the mass and extent of surrounding infiltrations had decreased.