[Echography of the upper abdominal vessels (author's transl)]

The newer generation of real-time ultrasonic equipment with its high resolution capacity permits not only visualization of the large abdominal vessels like the aorta and inferior vena cava, but in addition the tracing smaller visceral branches. The celiac trunk with its branches, the common hepatic artery and the splenic artery, the superior mesenteric and the two renal arteries can be visualized in 60-80% of all echographically examined patients. Consequently the new possibilities of abdominal echography with regard to assessment of the variations of vessels from the norm and intravascular processes such as thromboses are opened up. Changes in the courses of vessels permit conclusions on the seat and direction of growth of tumors.