Ultrasound imaging of bowel pathology: technique and keys to diagnosis in the acute abdomen.

Abstract

This article illustrates the normal and pathologic sonographic appearances of bowel, with an emphasis on diagnostic ultrasound techniques. The current role of ultrasound for adult bowel evaluation is limited in the United States, with CT emerging as the primary modality for evaluation of the acute abdomen. However, mounting concerns regarding diagnostic radiation and health care costs may affect practice patterns and shift utilization back toward sonography, which is widely available and relatively inexpensive.