Abdominal ultrasound

Checklist

Each radiologist will have his or her personal preferences for imaging abdominal organs.  A common sequence of a full abdominal ultrasound examination is aorta - pancreas - liver/gallbladder - kidneys - bladder region - intestines.
As a general rule, each organ and abnormality is imaged in two directions; in most cases the transversal and sagittal directions. 

Tips for viewing stored ultrasound images: 

• The upper part of the image is the skin-side. 
• Use the marker on the screen to identify the region and the imaging direction (sagittal or transverse) of the structures.  
• Fluid does not reflect sound waves, which makes it appear anechogenic (black). Therefore, if you see an anechogenic area, it could indicate a fluid-filled organ or abnormality, such as the gallbladder, bladder, blood vessels, cysts, or ascites.  
• Calcified structures, such as bile stones and kidney stones, can cause acoustic shadowing.  
• To assess for the presence of liver steatosis, compare the echo reflection pattern of the liver parenchyma with that of the cortex of the right kidney (refer to the Pathology section).  
• Comparing with normal anatomy is helpful in identifying pathology. For example, check if the collecting duct system of the kidney appears symmetrical or if there is mild hydronephrosis. Additionally, assess intestinal wall thickening in contrast to the normal intestinal wall (see the Pathology section).