Tab. 2.

Indications for abdominal ultrasound [AIUM Practice Parameter for the Performance of an Ultrasound Examination of the Abdomen and/or Retroperitoneum. http://www.aium.org/resources/guidelines/abdominal.pdf]

Abdominal, flank, and/or back pain

Signs or symptoms that may be referred from the abdominal and/or retroperitoneal regions, such as jaundice or hematuria

Palpable abnormalities, such as an abdominal mass or organomegaly

Abnormal laboratory values or abnormal findings on other imaging examinations suggestive of abdominal and/or retroperitoneal pathology

Follow-up of known or suspected abnormalities in the abdomen and/or retroperitoneum

Evaluation of cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stents; screening for hepatoma; and evaluation of the liver in conjunction with liver elastography

Abdominal trauma

Search for metastatic disease or an occult primary neoplasm

Evaluation of urinary tract infection and hydronephrosis

Evaluation of uncontrolled hypertension and suspected renal artery stenosis

Search for the presence of free or loculated peritoneal and/or retroperitoneal fluid

Evaluation of suspected congenital abnormalities

Evaluation of suspected hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, intussusception, necrotizing enterocolitis, or any other bowel abnormalities

Pretransplantation and posttransplantation evaluation

Planning for and guiding an invasive procedure