Pneumoperitoneography: a special radiological technic used in nonhuman primate medicine

Visualization of abdominal structures was difficult in survey radiographs of nonhuman primates due to the paucity of intra-abdominal fat and the presence of gastrointestinal contents. Simple pneuoperitoneography combined with contrast gastrointestinal studies provided valuable information, ie, size, shape, and position, of abdominal structures. After ip injection of carbon dioxide, a series of positional radiographs were exposed to delineate the various abdominal organs. The positioning device used in the examination was illustrated and described and the clinical indications and diagnostic value of pneumoperitoneography discussed.