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US of Gastrointestinal Tract Abnormalities with CT Correlation¹

¹ From the Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital at the University of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital, ES 1-401a, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2C4. Recipient of a Certificate of Merit award for an education exhibit at the 2000 RSNA scientific assembly. Received April 12, 2002; revision requested May 14 and received June 19; accepted June 19. Address correspondence to M.E.O. (e-mail: martin.o’malley@uhn.on.ca).

Ultrasonography (US) is often the first imaging study performed in patients with abdominal pain or vague symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract. An awareness of the US appearances of diseases of the intestine is essential to achieve the proper diagnosis and to enable appropriate triage of cases. Pathologic processes that affect the intestine generally result in decreased peristalsis and bowel wall thickening, both of which tend to decrease the luminal gas content. These changes permit evaluation of the intestine and surrounding structures with transabdominal and transvaginal US. US is useful in diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory conditions, such as appendicitis, Crohn disease, diverticulitis, epiploic appendagitis, pseudomembranous colitis, small bowel obstruction, small bowel vasculitis, and celiac disease. US is also helpful in diagnosis of tumors, such as gastric cancer, bowel lymphoma, and colon cancer. Familiarity with the US appearances of diseases that affect the intestine may allow specific diagnosis based on the degree and distribution of bowel wall thickening and associated changes of the perienteric tissues.

© RSNA, 2003

Index Terms: Gastrointestinal tract, inflammation, 70.2 • Gastrointestinal tract, neoplasms, 70. 30 • Gastrointestinal tract, US, 70.1298

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