Value of Multislice Computerized Tomography in Evaluation of Acute Abdomen with A Hidden Cause at Sonography

Abstract

Background: Our focus is acute abdominal pain in general, but we also discuss a number of frequently encountered urgent diagnoses in patients with acute abdominal pain: appendicitis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, and bowel obstruction. Although perforated viscus and mesenteric ischemia are less frequently encountered, these are also addressed because imaging is of paramount importance for the timely diagnosis of these abnormalities. Objective: Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of multislice Computerized Tomography (CT) examination in the diagnosis of patients presented with acute abdominal pain with a hidden cause at abdominal Ultrasonography (US) examination. Patients and methods; the study is a prospective study which included 70 patients referred to the Radiology Department at Sohag University Hospital from the surgical emergency room with Inclusion criteria is a Patient presented with acute abdominal pain and Exclusion criteria is patient with a definite diagnosis of the cause of acute abdominal pain at the abdominal US, medical or traumatic causes of acute abdominal pain. Results: CT imaging may be called the main method for diagnosing severe abdominal pain. When expense and ionizing radiation toxicity are key considerations, one approach is to conduct US first in all patients with severe abdominal pain, followed by CT in all instances with the non-diagnostic US. CT is much more precise and descriptive in this environment. Conclusion: At present, CT can be considered the primary imaging technique for patients with acute abdominal pain, with the exception of patients, suspected of having acute cholecystitis. The US is preferable in these patients, but CT is an acceptable alternative.