INTRAABDOMINAL GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT - P RACTICAL IMAGING IN DAILY PRACTICE USING CT AND ULTRASOUND

Endoscopy and radiological imaging are complementary. However the gast ro-intestinal tract is routinely being imaged in CT and ultrasound, of ten performed for other indications. When an abnormality is discovered , several questions have to be addressed. Is the lesion due to a bower abnormality? When bowel wall thickening is present, is it due to poor opacification or is it due to inflammation or tumor? Circumferential symmetrical thickening is more in favor of an inflammatory lesion, whi le focal asymmetrical thickening is more in favor of a neoplastic lesi on. Inflammatory and lymphomatous lesion can have similar appearances. Guidelines to aid in diagnostic interpretation of gastrointestinal le sions are discussed, including features of appendicitis and obstructio n.