Nonmalignant gastric causes of acute abdominal pain on MDCT: a pictorial review

Abstract

Acute abdominal pain is a common indication for imaging. The stomach may be poorly assessed or overlooked on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), despite the high prevalence of gastric pathology as the source of abdominal pain. We review the pathophysiology, imaging features, and clinical management of common and uncommon nonmalignant gastric conditions on MDCT. As the stomach is often difficult to assess on MDCT, and pathology overlooked, corresponding increased awareness of gastric causes of pain is critical for radiologists to accurately interpret imaging in the setting of acute abdominal pain.