[Diagnostic imaging of the acute abdomen].

An acute abdomen may result from various diseases, with appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and obstruction of the small and the large bowel as the leading causes. The quality of diagnostic imaging has been improved within the last years especially by recent developments of cross-sectional imaging modalities. Sonography is an efficient modality for detecting cholecystitis and appendicitis. Spiral computed tomography is the modality of choice in case of suspected bowel obstruction or pancreatitis.