Results of Lower Abdominal Ultrasound as Part of Whole Abdominal Ultrasound in Patients with and without Indications Related to Lower Abdomen
Dissaneevate, K.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 100(Suppl 1): S177-S182
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 29927560 Document Number: 17506
Whole abdominal ultrasound sometimes shows no significant findings in the lower abdomen, especially in To analyze the results of lower abdominal ultrasound in patients who were sent for ultrasound of the whole abdomen; to correlate the results with indications for requesting ultrasound based on diagnosis or clinical findings in the lower abdomen; and examine their associations with further management of the patients who had positive findings. A retrospective analysis was performed of 440 whole abdominal ultrasound studies at the Department A total of 440 cases were analyzed, consisting of 268 females and 172 males with mean age 56.44 years. Negative indications were recorded for 74.8% and the most common indication was checkup (37.0%). Positive results were seen in 22.3% of cases, most of which were benign conditions (78.6%). In the groups of positive and negative indications, 35.1% and 17.9% had positive results, and 15.3% and 1.2% respectively were diagnosed as having (or probably having) malignancy. Over 90.0% of the positive results in the negative indication group were benign and 62.2% had no further post-examination management, consultation, or related investigation. Most of the results of lower abdominal ultrasound in the patients sent for whole abdominal ultrasound were negative, and the majority of the positive findings were benign conditions requiring no further management. More positive results, especially findings suggestive or suspicious of cancers, were seen in cases with positive clinical data. Routine use of whole abdominal ultrasound does not appear to be very helpful, especially in patients who have no symptoms in the lower abdomen.