Transabdominal ultrasound has become accepted in clinical practice as a primary imaging procedure in the diagnostic work-up and follow-up of various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the use of ultrasound in the imaging of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract as well as of neoplastic and infectious diseases. The specific ultrasound features of gastrointestinal disorders are explained, and the value and limits of ultrasound are discussed. Each chapter provides a description of the findings obtained with ultrasound and includes consideration of alternative diagnostic imaging methods for comparative purposes. Relevant technical developments and applications, such as functional and 3D ultrasound, contrast agents and operative ultrasound, are also discussed. All authors are considered authorities in their specific fields, and the book includes many high-quality illustrations and the most up-to-date information.

Autorentext

Dr. Giovanni Maconi Born in 1964. Graduated from Pavia University and received his Medical Degree in 1989. Specialized in Gastroenterology at the Catholic University of Rome in 1993. He joined the "L. Sacco University Hospital", Milan, in 1992. Since December 2002 he is lecturer in Gastroenterology at the University of Milan. Thanks to his extensive research activities, he was awarded at young clinician program at World Congress of Gastroenterology, Vienna, in 1998. Author and co-author of over 70 scientific papers, mostly on Ultrasound and Gastroenterology and particularly on the role of bowel ultrasound in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. He sits on the Editorial Board of the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, the World Journal of gastroenterology Digestive and Liver Disease. Prof. Gabriele Bianchi Porro Born in Forli, Italy. Graduated from Milan University and received his Medical Degree in 1962. He joined the "L. Sacco University Hospital", Milan, in 1972 and after two years was appointed Head of the Gastroenterology Unit. At present he holds the Chair of Gastroenterology at the University of Milan. Author of over five hundred scientific papers, mostly on Gastroenterology, and more than 30 books. He is Editor in Chief of Digestive & Liver Disease, International Editor of the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterolog, and Associate Editor of Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterolgy. He sits on the Editorial Boards of the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the Journal of Internal Medicine, Drugs, Drug Investigation, Drugs and Ageing.

Inhalt

Acute Abdomen: Acute Appendicitis and Appendiceal Mucocele.- Mesenteric Lymphadenopathy.- Acute Colonic Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis.- Intestinal Obstruction .-Abdominal Hernias, Volvulus and Intussusception.- Ischemic Colitis.- Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Crohn's Disease.- Ulcerative Colitis.- Malabsorption: Coeliac Disease.-Lymphangectasia, Whipple's Disease and Eosinophilic Enteritis.- Infections: Infectious Bacterial Enteritis.- Intestinal Tuberculosis.- Pseudomembranous Colitis.- Amebic, Ascariasis and Other Parasitic and Infectious Enteritis.- Neoplasm: Colorectal Cancer.- Gastric Cancer.- Gastrointestinal Lymphomas.- Peritoneal Metastases.- Carcinoid and Submucosal Tumors.- Procedures and Technical Developments: Intravenous Contrast-Enhanced Bowel Ultrasound.- Oral Contrast-Enhanced Bowel Ultrasound.- Functional Ultrasound of the Gastrointestinal Tract.- 3D Ultrasound of the Gastrointestinal Tract.- Transcutaneous Gastrointestinal Biopsy. Subject Index.- List of Contributor.