Are we overusing ultrasound in non-traumatic acute abdominal pain?

Abstract

The results suggest that ultrasound is useful in the investigation of suspected biliary colic and abdominal masses. However, the yield of ultrasound in other patients with acute non-traumatic abdominal pain is low. This study also suggests that the yield of "positive" reports on ultrasound is significantly higher in patients with localised abdominal pain and tenderness and in those with acute abdominal pain and a raised white cell count or raised liver function tests. The yield of positive reports in patients with acute abdominal pain was found to be lower those less than 25 years of age than in older patients.