[Ultrasonic diagnosis of abdominal foreign bodies]

Experience with ultrasonic examination (USE) in diagnosis of foreign abdominal bodies in 23 patients is reviewed. Foreign abdominal bodies have specific echosemiotics. It is demonstrated that USE provides maximal information about sizes, structure, location of foreign abdominal bodies, their depth of location and relationship with abdominal organs. It makes sense to make in some cases a differential diagnosis with inflammatory infiltrates and abdominal abscesses, fetus, gastric bezoar. It is necessary for this to use additional X-ray and endoscopic methods. USE helps to decide on optimal surgical approach and gives information for repeated surgery that permits to reduce the time of relaparotomy.