Our preliminary results suggest that bedside two-dimensional ultrasonography can be a useful noninvasive tool to determine gastric content and volume.

Familiarity with the pathophysiology of peritoneal disease is the basis of successful ultrasound (US) study of the peritoneum. The pouch of Douglas, diaphragmatic surfaces, the paracolic gutters, and the regions of the mesentery and omentum should receive careful scrutiny in the patient at risk for a peritoneal disease process. An optimal US technique requires assessment of the entire peritoneum with a transducer selected to reflect the depth of the region of interest. US may demonstrate minute quantities of free intraperitoneal fluid and is therefore capable of providing sensitive quantitative information about ascites. Qualitative information may also be inferred, as blood, pus, and neoplastic cells demonstrate correlation with particulate ascites on gray-scale US scans. Peritoneal nodules, plaques, and thickening may be detected on the visceral or parietal peritoneal surfaces, especially when high-frequency probes are used. Transvaginal study in women increases the sensitivity of US for detection of peritoneal disease. In women who have unexplained sepsis or are at risk for carcinomatosis, transvaginal scanning should routinely be added to the regular abdominal and pelvic studies regardless of the findings of those studies. Peritoneal carcinomatosis, primary peritoneal neoplasms, pseudomyxoma peritonei, and peritonitis have characteristic appearances at US.

Image reconstruction with multi-detector row helical CT at collimations less than 5 mm may not improve sensitivity in the detection of hepatic metastases 1.5 cm or smaller.

The appearances of hepatocellular carcinoma on images obtained using MDCT scanners are similar to those described for images obtained using single-detector helical scanners. However, the prevalence of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma on MDCT images is higher than previously described on single-detector helical images and most lesions showed washout on portal venous MDCT images.

Prose reports foster a lack of standardization of content among different radiologists. Itemized reports facilitate complete documentation of information and measurements and are more popular with both radiologists and referring clinicians.