C. R. Srinivasa Babu 1 , Arjun Prakash 2 , Jatla Jyothi Swaroop 3 , Vishwa Premraj D. R 4
Acute abdomen is defined as the clinical condition in which the patient presents with acute severe abdominal symptoms within
a period of 24 hours and where emergency medical or surgical intervention is required. A plain radiograph of the abdomen is
often the first line of investigation in patients presenting with an acute abdomen, in spite of advances in other promising
modalities like Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). It is important to be familiar with gas
patterns to narrow down on the differential diagnoses and to make a correct diagnosis. Here we present a pictorial essay of the
spectrum of gas patterns on plain radiograms.
