Sonographic assessment of infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: from scanning to diagnosis

Abstract

Background: Sonography of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a practical, safe, inexpensive, and reproducible diagnostic tool for the evaluation, diagnosis, and follow-up of infectious bowel disease. The modality is rapidly gaining prominence among clinicians on a global scale. In the United States, however, ultrasound of the bowel remains underutilized primarily due to insufficient experience among radiologists and sonographers in performing sonographic bowel assessment. This lack of experience and knowledge results in misinterpretations, missed diagnoses, and underutilization of this modality in patients with acute abdomen, with the majority of GI pathology on sonography discovered incidentally. Objectives: This article aims to demonstrate the characteristic sonographic findings associated with GI infectious processes as well as provide dedicated ultrasound protocols for evaluation of the GI tract. Conclusion: This article serves a twofold purpose, raising awareness of the utility of this imaging modality within the radiology community and also providing practical teaching points for sonographic evaluation of infectious disorders of the GI tract.