Abdominal Imaging

Abstract

Diseases of the abdomen and pelvis can have a bewildering array of clinical presentations as a result of pathological conditions involving either the gastrointestinal (GI) or the genitourinary (GU) system. The diagnosis and management of these patients therefore is often clinically challenging and can represent an enigma despite or perhaps because of the availability of numerous laboratory investigations. The introduction of imaging has opened new methods to evaluate patients presenting with diseases of the abdomen and pelvis. Imaging provides a unique inside view of the abdomen, and it frequently aids a treating physician in unraveling its complex mysteries. The explosion of various imaging modalities over the past century, ranging from plain radiography to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has revolutionized diagnosis and follow-up of patients with various types of pathology in the abdomen and pelvis. Continued advancements in the past few decades, particularly in cross-sectional imaging modalities such as multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and MRI, have made imaging an integral tool in patient diagnosis and management. Indeed, an ultrasound (US) or CT scan is often among the initial investigations performed in a patient presenting to the emergency room with abdominal complaints. Despite their immense benefits, judicious use of imaging techniques is imperative, not only to avoid excessive economic burden on our healthcare system, but also to prevent unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation with techniques such as fluoroscopy or CT scans (Table 5.1). In this chapter, our aim is to provide an overview of the various imaging techniques available in the interrogation of patients with signs and symptoms related to the abdomen and pelvis.