[Acute abdomen - gastrointestinal causes].

CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in the assessment and stratification of pathologic conditions causing acute abdomen. This report provides information on etiology, clinical manifestations and therapeutic options for six common diseases resulting in acute abdomen-appendicitis, cholecystitis, bowel obstruction, diverticulitis, acute pancreatitis, and viscus perforation. PERFORMANCE: Besides initial ultrasound, CT scans often represent the imaging gold standard for the diagnostic evaluation of acute abdomen. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Depending on the underlying pathologic condition, sonography or CT is suitable for the stratification of the gastrointestinal disease causing acute abdomen.