CT Case 048
71-year-old man presents with three days of abdominal distension and colicky abdominal pain. During his emergency department visit he developed bilious vomiting.
Tag Abdominal X-ray
AXR Interpretation
Indications for plain AXR differ depending on the availability of CT or USS, which give considerably more information. Abdominal X-rays are only useful for certain defined pathology such as abnormal ‘gases, masses, bones and stones’.
Gas On Abdominal X-ray DDx
Location of gas on the abdominal x-ray may suggest the the underlying cause. Differential diagnosis
Abdominal X-ray and CT
Abdominal X-ray: AXR; Bowel obstruction; Sigmoid volvulus; Caecal volvulus; Bowel perforation