Friday, November 25, 2005

 

Ultrasound use in acute abdomen


Recently I encounter a case of 48 y/o female c/o epigastric pain for 1 day. CBC and SMA and UA are normal and KUB showed no ileus or free air. Keto(NSAID) 1 amp IV is given and stay in ED overnight. When I saw the patient and place the ultrasound proble over the abd, there is a large hypodense mass seen on the screen, especially over lower abd. So I tell the patient to urinate in order to rule out urinary retention. But after the patient urinates, ultrasound showed the image of a large hypoechoic mass in lower abd to mid-abd above umbilicus. There is no ascites seen in Morrison's pouch and this is not stomach distension since I press the mass, patient didn't vomit at all. All in my mind is a cystic lesion but origion from where. Woman of 48, may be from ovary.
After consultation with GYN, they admit the patient due to a huge pelvic mass from ultrasound findings. Exploratory laparotomy 2 days later showed a large right ovary mass and oophorectomy had done. Retrospectively when I review the KUB , I can see there is a soft tissue mass density in pelvis. So careful examination and careful reading of X ray is necessary. Ultrasound still play an important role in differential diagnosis of acute abdomen.

Comments:
Ya, I always remind the residents that plain film is the first study in image rather than CT.

Detail interpretation of film can gather some import clues to accurately diagnose.

The residents always see the CT first in the viewbox, and is't wrong!
 
Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?