Background: Whole abdominal ultrasound sometimes shows no significant findings in the lower abdomen, especially in
patients without indications related to this area. Those patients have to spend a lot of time waiting for their test and refrain
from urination in order to complete whole abdominal examinations but gain no additional benefit.
Objective: To analyze the results of lower abdominal ultrasound in patients who were sent for ultrasound of the whole abdomen; to correlate the results with indications for requesting ultrasound based on diagnosis or clinical findings in the lower abdomen; and examine their associations with further management of the patients who had positive findings.
Material and Method: A retrospective analysis was performed of 440 whole abdominal ultrasound studies at the Department
of Radiology, Rajavithi Hospital from January 2011 to December 2012. Indications on the request forms and reports were reviewed, focusing on lower abdominal findings. Data were recorded for indications, results, and post-examination management. Positive indications for lower abdominal study were taken as diagnoses of diseases related to the lower abdomen, symptoms and signs in the lower abdomen, and findings in the lower abdomen.
Results: A total of 440 cases were analyzed, consisting of 268 females and 172 males with mean age 56.44 years. Negative
indications were recorded for 74.8% and the most common indication was checkup (37.0%). Positive results were seen in
22.3% of cases, most of which were benign conditions (78.6%). In the groups of positive and negative indications, 35.1% and
17.9% had positive results, and 15.3% and 1.2% respectively were diagnosed as having (or probably having) malignancy.
Over 90.0% of the positive results in the negative indication group were benign and 62.2% had no further post-examination
management, consultation, or related investigation.
Conclusion: Most of the results of lower abdominal ultrasound in the patients sent for whole abdominal ultrasound were negative, and the majority of the positive findings were benign conditions requiring no further management. More positive
results, especially findings suggestive or suspicious of cancers, were seen in cases with positive clinical data. Routine use of
whole abdominal ultrasound does not appear to be very helpful, especially in patients who have no symptoms in the lower abdomen.

Keywords: Whole abdominal ultrasound, Abdominopelvic ultrasound, Lower abdominal ultrasound