Published August 30, 2023 | Version http://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJTPR/13/IJTPR,Vol13,Issue8,Article1.pdf
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The Study of Role of CT in Evaluation of Non-traumatic Acute Abdomen

  • 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Prathima Relief Institute of Medical Sciences, Mulugu Road, Hanamkonda, Telangana State
  • 2. Professor, Department of Radiology, Prathima Relief Institute of Medical Sciences, Mulugu Road, Hanamkonda, Telangana State.

Description

Background: The term ‘Acute Abdomen’ denotes a medical condition marked by intense abdominal pain that emerges within a few hours. In determining the underlying cause of this condition, CT scans have proven to be more effective than clinical evaluation, basic laboratory tests, and inconclusive imaging examinations, regardless of the duration of signs and symptoms. This study aims to determine the significance of CT scans in diagnosing the origins of acute abdominal pain. Methods: A Toshiba Multi-slice CT scanner with 4 slices was utilized for all cases. Abdominal and pelvic images were captured in serial axial sections from the diaphragm to the lower border of the symphysis pubis. The collimation was set at 5 – 7 mm, and the pitch ranged from 1 to 1.5, depending on the required coverage length. Multi-planar reconstruction was conducted at intervals of 3-7 mm. The images were studied in both axial and coronal/sagittal reformatted views. Results: In this study, out of n=40 cases of non-traumatic acute abdomen existence of urinary pathologies followed by hepatobiliary pathologies. GI pathologies were in 25% of cases and pancreatic pathologies were in 12.5% of cases. Renal calculi were the cause of non-traumatic acute abdomen in 42.58% of cases followed by ureteric calculus in 35.71% and vesical calculus in 21.43% of cases. Conclusion: Proper diagnosis of acute abdomen is essential for effective management and reducing complications and mortality. While radiography is available, its use is mostly limited to cases of hollow-viscus perforation and intestinal obstruction. Ultrasound (USG) may be inconclusive in the presence of excessive bowel gas or abdominal fat, hindering the visualization of abdominal organs. Despite the slight increase in cost and the small risk of radiation, the prompt use of CT in investigating acute abdomen cases results in more accurate diagnoses and improves decision-making, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

Abstract (English)

Background: The term ‘Acute Abdomen’ denotes a medical condition marked by intense abdominal pain that emerges within a few hours. In determining the underlying cause of this condition, CT scans have proven to be more effective than clinical evaluation, basic laboratory tests, and inconclusive imaging examinations, regardless of the duration of signs and symptoms. This study aims to determine the significance of CT scans in diagnosing the origins of acute abdominal pain. Methods: A Toshiba Multi-slice CT scanner with 4 slices was utilized for all cases. Abdominal and pelvic images were captured in serial axial sections from the diaphragm to the lower border of the symphysis pubis. The collimation was set at 5 – 7 mm, and the pitch ranged from 1 to 1.5, depending on the required coverage length. Multi-planar reconstruction was conducted at intervals of 3-7 mm. The images were studied in both axial and coronal/sagittal reformatted views. Results: In this study, out of n=40 cases of non-traumatic acute abdomen existence of urinary pathologies followed by hepatobiliary pathologies. GI pathologies were in 25% of cases and pancreatic pathologies were in 12.5% of cases. Renal calculi were the cause of non-traumatic acute abdomen in 42.58% of cases followed by ureteric calculus in 35.71% and vesical calculus in 21.43% of cases. Conclusion: Proper diagnosis of acute abdomen is essential for effective management and reducing complications and mortality. While radiography is available, its use is mostly limited to cases of hollow-viscus perforation and intestinal obstruction. Ultrasound (USG) may be inconclusive in the presence of excessive bowel gas or abdominal fat, hindering the visualization of abdominal organs. Despite the slight increase in cost and the small risk of radiation, the prompt use of CT in investigating acute abdomen cases results in more accurate diagnoses and improves decision-making, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

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Dates

Accepted
2023-08-01

References

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