Mesentery, omentum, peritoneum: CT, ultrasound and MRI

Abstract

Ultrasound is an accurate, safe, readily available, portable, and relatively inexpensive imaging modality. Traditionally assessment of the abdomen and pelvis with ultrasound has concentrated on the solid viscera, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Many believe that interference from bowel gas and poor visibility in general limit evaluation of the peritoneum and peritoneal cavity and that evaluation of these areas is very time consuming. As a result little time is spent on teaching techniques to optimally image the peritoneum and peritoneal cavity and in general there is a poor understanding of the appearance of peritoneal disease with ultrasound.