Abdominal Imaging

Benign Focal Lesions

Etiology Although benign hepatic tumors have been classified into several histiotypes according to their cell of origin (i.e., hepatocytes, biliary epithelium, or mesenchymal cells), our focus in this discussion is on those lesions most frequently encountered in clinical practice, including…

Imaging of the Liver

Ultrasound Technical Aspects Ultrasound is a widely accessible, noninvasive imaging method that has many advantages over other imaging methods. It is portable and relatively inexpensive with high spatial and temporal resolution. It does not involve ionizing radiation and can be…

Imaging of the Postoperative Bowel

Surgical procedures performed on the bowel are innumerable, and their detailed discussion is beyond the scope of this chapter. To understand the related imaging, it is important to be familiar with the postoperative anatomy. Our purpose in this chapter is…

Colon Cancer and Screening Strategies

Etiology The causes of the development of colorectal carcinoma and its precursor lesion, the colonic adenoma, are multifactorial and include both genetic predisposition and environmental insults. Risk factors for colorectal carcinoma include familial polyposis syndrome, ulcerative colitis, family history of…

Colonic Vascular Lesions

Etiology Vascular lesions of the colon are an important medical problem and have now been recognized as a significant cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. They can be solitary or multifocal, benign or malignant, or associated with a syndrome or systemic dis­order.…

Inflammatory and Infectious Colonic Lesions

Etiology Colonic inflammation may be caused by numerous processes and is typically thought of as colitis. Some inflammatory conditions of the colon such as diverticulitis and epiploic appendagitis also represent inflammatory lesions of the colon and, on occasion, may be…

Computed Tomographic Colonography

Technical Aspects Colorectal cancer is the second cause of cancer deaths in the United States, second only to lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Colorectal cancer screening can be used to identify adenomatous polyps, the precursor lesion…

Colon Imaging: Conventional Imaging and Computed Tomography

Conventional Imaging Technical Aspects Before cross-sectional imaging, the double-contrast enema was the foremost radiologic method for detection of colonic mucosal lesions and precancerous polyps. Diagnostic high-quality double-contrast barium enema examination is an art, requiring skillful maneuvering of the patient and…