Abdominal ultrasonography

Abdominal ultrasonography
Medical ultrasound equipment which can be used for abdominal ultrasonography
ICD-9-CM	88.76
OPS-301 code	3-059
MedlinePlus	003777
[edit on Wikidata]

Abdominal ultrasonography (also called abdominal ultrasound imaging or abdominal sonography) is a form of

Abdominal ultrasound is commonly used in the setting of abdominal pain or an acute abdomen (sudden and/or severe abdominal pain syndrome in which surgical intervention might be necessary), in which it can diagnose appendicitis or cholecystitis.

Ultrasound can also be used if there is suspicion of enlargement of one or more organs, such as used in screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm, investigation for splenomegaly or urinary retention.

Ultrasound can be used for additional anatomical information for patients with an abnormal

It can be used on the abdominal aorta to detect or exclude abdominal aortic aneurysm. For this purpose, the standard aortic measurement for abdominal aortic aneurysm is between the outer margins of the aortic wall.^[4]

In cases of infectious mononucleosis, splenomegaly is a common symptom, and health care providers may consider using abdominal ultrasonography to get insight into a person's condition.^[5] However, because spleen size varies greatly, ultrasonography is not a valid technique for assessing spleen enlargement and should not be used in typical circumstances or to make routine decisions about fitness for playing sports.^[5]

Detecting stones

Ultrasound imaging is useful for detecting stones, for example

In patients with deranged liver function tests, ultrasound may show increased liver size (

Ultrasonography of liver tumors involves two stages: detection and characterization.^{[citation needed]} Tumor detection is based on the performance of the method and should include morphometric information (three axes dimensions, volume) and topographic information (number, location specifying liver segment and lobe/lobes). The specification of these data is important for staging liver tumors and prognosis.^{[citation needed]} Tumor characterization is a complex process based on a sum of criteria leading towards tumor nature definition. Often, other diagnostic procedures, especially interventional ones, are no longer necessary. Tumor characterization using the ultrasound method will be based on the following elements: consistency (solid, liquid, mixed), echogenicity, structure appearance (homogeneous or heterogeneous), delineation from adjacent liver parenchyma (capsular, imprecise), elasticity, posterior acoustic enhancement effect, the relation with neighboring organs or structures (displacement, invasion), vasculature (presence and characteristics on Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).^{[citation needed]}

Renal ultrasonography

Ultrasonography of the kidneys is essential in the diagnosis and management of kidney-related diseases. The kidneys are easily examined, and most pathological changes in the kidneys are distinguishable with ultrasound.^[7]

Technique

Advantages of ultrasound imaging of abdominal structures are that the procedure can be performed quickly, bed-side, involves no exposure to

The imaging occurs real-time and without sedation, so that the influence of movements can be assessed quickly. For example, by pressing the ultrasound probe against the gallbladder, a radiological Murphy's sign can be elicited.

Through the abdominal wall, organs inside the

The liver can be imaged by swiping the probe sagittally from medial to lateral at the subcoastal region. However, if majority of the liver parenchyma is located high up in behind the ribs, the subject can be asked to breathe deeply to push down the liver into the abdomen for better visibility of liver. If the liver is still not visualised, then the subject can be rolled to the left lateral position to move the liver out of the ribs. Then, the ultrasound probe is rotated 90 degrees to access the liver in axial plane from the dome of the diaphragm until the lower segment of the liver.[8]

Abdominal Ultrasound (Full Exam)

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  Aorta
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  Aorta
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  Aorta
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  Aorta
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  Aorta
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  Right kidney
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  Right kidney
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  Right kidney
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  Right kidney
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  Right kidney
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  Right kidney
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  Right kidney
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  Right kidney
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  Left kidney
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  Left kidney
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  Left kidney
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  Left kidney
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  Left kidney
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  Spleen
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  Spleen
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  Spleen
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  Spleen
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  Pancreas
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  Pancreas
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  Pancreas
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  Pancreas
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  Pancreas
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  Pancreas
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Liver
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  Gallbladder
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  Gallbladder
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  Bile duct
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  Bile duct
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  Gallbladder
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  Gallbladder
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  Gallbladder
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  Gallbladder

See also

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound
• Medical ultrasound

References