[Modern sonography in the diagnosis of acute abdomen].

Acute abdomen is a serious clinical situation and prompt imaging is mandatory so that appropriate therapeutic measures can be taken. Multiple diseases can present with the clinical signs and symptoms of acute abdomen. Ultrasound is widely available and can be performed expeditiously. Recently, major technical innovations in ultrasound technology were introduced which greatly enhanced the diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of acute abdomen. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is among these valuable innovations. In this article the application of modern ultrasound techniques for the diagnosis of the most common causes of acute abdomen is outlined, which may be due to diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract, parenchymal organs in the upper abdomen as well as vascular disorders. Moreover, the diagnostic efficacy and the value as compared to other imaging modalities are analyzed.