Acute Abdomen in the Modern Era

Abstract

To the Editor: The review by Rogers et al. (July 4 issue)¹ discusses the diagnosis and management of acute abdominal pain. We would like to point out that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is increasingly being used in the evaluation of acute abdominal pain.² In the context of hepatobiliary disease, this method is widely used in the evaluation of acute liver diseases (especially abscesses or bleeding lesions), along with acute cholecystitis and its complications (e.g., pericholecystic collections).³ In patients with bowel disease, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is an excellent tool for differentiating wall thickening linked to inflammatory conditions from that associated with ischemic vascular disease.⁴ . . .