When prefer MRI or CT over abdominal ultrasound?

When US is inconclusive, there is suspicion of a focal liver lesion needing characterization (hepatobiliary MRI), pancreatitis with complication (contrast-enhanced CT), or unstable trauma (whole-body CT). For patients with a poor acoustic window, go straight to cross-section.

Does the patient need to fast?

Yes, 6–8 h fasting for adequate gallbladder and biliary tree evaluation. Routine hydration for bladder filling in pelvic studies.

How to measure liver and spleen correctly?

For the liver, measure right lobe (RL) at the mid-clavicular line and left lobe (LL) at the midline, longitudinal plane. Splenic index = length × thickness × width — normal up to 60 cm³ in adults.

Report template — Ultrasound of abdomen total

When to use

Abdominal ultrasound is first-line for abdominal pain, suspected cholelithiasis/cholecystitis, hepatic steatosis, biliary duct dilatation and mass screening. It is operator-dependent and limited by bowel gas and body habitus — when inconclusive, consider CT or MRI.

What to evaluate

Liver: size, contour, echotexture/echogenicity, focal lesions.
Intra and extra-hepatic bile ducts; common duct caliber.
Gallbladder: wall, content, stones, sonographic Murphy sign.
Pancreas (bowel-gas limited): size, main duct, lesions.
Spleen: size, splenic index (up to 60), lesions.
Kidneys, bladder and abdominal aorta when in protocol.
Free intra-abdominal fluid.

Interactive template

Fill the blanks0/1

- Fígado: com dimensões normais, contornos regulares e bordas finas. Ecotextura parenquimatosa hepática homogênea. - Veias porta e hepáticas: com calibres preservados. - Vesícula biliar: tópica, normodistendida, com paredes finas e regulares e conteúdo anecogênico, sem cálculos. - Vias biliares intra e extra-hepáticas: sem dilatações - Pâncreas: com dimensões, contornos e ecogenicidade normais. - Baço: com dimensões normais, homogêneo. - Rins: tópicos, de dimensões normais, com espessura e ecogenicidade parenquimatosas preservadas, sem hidronefrose ou cálculos detectáveis ao método. - Aorta abdominal: com calibre normal. - Peritôneo e retroperitôneo: ausência de líquido livre ou coleções detectáveis. - Bexiga: com repleção satisfatória, paredes regulares e conteúdo anecogênico. Volume estimado em mL. Conclusão: - Exame sem alterações significativas.

Template in Brazilian Portuguese (clinical reporting language). Adapt to your service protocol. Not medical advice — the physician reviews, edits and signs.

How to use

Replace each [...] with the exam's measurement or descriptor.
Adapt the conclusion to your service protocol before signing.
Use the template as a starting point — not a replacement for physician review.
In Laudos.AI, dictate findings in natural speech and the AI structures text in this format for review.

Related classifications

LI-RADS — liver lesion characterization

Frequently asked

When prefer MRI or CT over abdominal ultrasound?: When US is inconclusive, there is suspicion of a focal liver lesion needing characterization (hepatobiliary MRI), pancreatitis with complication (contrast-enhanced CT), or unstable trauma (whole-body CT). For patients with a poor acoustic window, go straight to cross-section.
Does the patient need to fast?: Yes, 6–8 h fasting for adequate gallbladder and biliary tree evaluation. Routine hydration for bladder filling in pelvic studies.
How to measure liver and spleen correctly?: For the liver, measure right lobe (RL) at the mid-clavicular line and left lobe (LL) at the midline, longitudinal plane. Splenic index = length × thickness × width — normal up to 60 cm³ in adults.

References

American College of Radiology — ACR Practice Parameter for the Performance of an Ultrasound Examination of the Abdomen and/or Retroperitoneum.
Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia (CBR) — Diretrizes de qualidade em ultrassonografia abdominal.