Techniques for improved delineation of normal anatomy of the upper abdomen and high retroperitoneum with gray-scale ultrasound.

Improved scanning techniques, positioning, and adjustments in instrumentation have been developed on the basis of more than 1,500 ultrasound examinations of the upper abdomen and high retroperitoneum. The latest instrumentation was employed, including gray-scale signal processing and focused transducers. These methods have resulted in improved visualization of normal anatomical structures, including the aorta, inferior vena cava, portal venous system, and major branches of these vessels as well as the common bile duct. Aspects of these techniques are illustrated and their applications and limitations in the differential diagnosis of upper abdominal disease are discussed.