What does a plain CT scan of the upper abdomen check?

CT is an item that appears in daily examinations. From the examination results, a plain CT scan of the upper abdomen can check whether there are abnormalities in the patient's liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands and other organs. For example, diseases of the liver and gallbladder include liver tumors, liver cysts, fatty liver, cholecystitis, gallstones, etc. In addition, adrenal tumors can also be found.

1. Indications for abdominal CT scan

1. Liver and gallbladder, including liver tumors, liver cysts, liver abscesses, fatty liver, cirrhosis, biliary masses, bile duct dilatation, cholecystitis and gallstones, etc.

2. Spleen CT can determine the size, shape, internal structure and congenital variations of the spleen, and can distinguish between bleeding caused by tumors, inflammation and trauma.

3. The scope of pancreatic inflammatory exudation and the presence or absence of pseudocyst formation and complications provide a basis for surgical treatment. For chronic pancreatitis, tiny calcifications and stones may be shown, and follow-up observation is required after conservative medical treatment or surgery. It can determine the presence or absence of a tumor, as well as the origin, location, and extent of the tumor.

4. Kidney and adrenal gland: determine whether there are benign or malignant tumors in the kidneys, their size and range, and whether there is lymph node metastasis. Determine the presence of kidney inflammation, abscesses, and the size and location of stones. Renal artery CT angiography can show the presence of vascular stenosis and other renal vascular lesions. Shows whether there is renal damage and bleeding after trauma. Determine the presence of benign or malignant tumors in the adrenal glands.

5. Observe the abdomen and retroperitoneum for abdominal tumors and retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, inflammation, and hematoma.

2. Plain CT of the abdomen vs. enhanced CT of the abdomen

There are many organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, bladder, kidneys, intestines, etc. However, there is a difference between choosing abdominal enhanced CT or abdominal CT. Simply put, one is a color photo and the other is a black and white photo. In the color photo, you can see the texture of the clothes, while in the black and white photo, you can only see the thick lines. Therefore, for a stomach with multiple organs, if conditions permit, it is better to do an enhanced CT scan to see the lesions more clearly. Moreover, the price difference between them is only 200 yuan. Some people even find that after completing a plain scan abdominal CT scan, the report actually states that further enhanced CT examination is required if necessary.