Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Abdomen, Emergency, CT, Conventional radiography, Computer Applications-Detection, diagnosis, Infection, Artifacts
Authors:
M. C. Pulido Rozo, M. Martí De Gracia, A. Díez Tascón, A. Verón Sánchez, S. Martín Pérez; Madrid/ES
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2012/C-2385
Background
The presence of gas within the peritoneum,
the parenchyma of solid organs or the walls of hollow viscera may be due to a variety of pathologic or benign entities.
There is a wide variety of clinical conditions which manifest radiologically by the presence of ectopic gas in the abdomen and pelvis and can represent a serious or even life-threatening condition.
The initial clinical manifestation of these entities may be insidious,
but rapid progression to sepsis will occur in the absence of early therapeutic intervention.
Conventional X-rays and ultrasonography are the most common initial imaging modalities used to evaluate patients with abdominopelvic complaints.
Computed tomography (CT) should be considered the imaging modality of choice when detection of abnormal gas is seen with the other imaging techniques,
because it is highly sensitive and specific in the detection of abnormal gas and reliable in identifying the anatomic location and extent of the gas.
CT is equally important in identifying benign sources of gas,
because treatment (if any) varies dramatically depending on the source.
The radiological depiction varies according to gas location,
extent and severity.
These data,
together with the patient's clinical information,
give us the key to reaching an accurate diagnosis.