Real-time ultrasound: its role in abdominal examinations

Until recently, real-time ultrasound has not had a central role in abdominal examinations due to the limited resolution of the scanners. However, a new generation of high-resolution real-time scanners has been introduced in the past year, and these machines are now being promoted as principal abdominal scanners. The authors have used a mechanical, phase-focused, annular array in conjunction with a conventional articulated-arm B-scanner for over a year in more than 2,000 examinations. Based on this experience, they present the argument that high-resolution real-time should be used as the standard technique for abdominal examination, and that it is not necessary to have a conventional articulated-arum scanner as backup.