Gastrointestinal bleeding is the loss of blood from any part of the digestive system, from the esophagus to the rectum. While endoscopy and CT angiography are the primary tools for identifying the source of GI bleeding, ultrasound plays a supporting role by evaluating for conditions that predispose to bleeding. In patients with upper GI bleeding, abdominal ultrasound can assess for liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, splenomegaly, and ascites, which together suggest variceal bleeding. Doppler ultrasound can evaluate the portal venous system for the collateral vessels that develop in portal hypertension. In children, ultrasound can identify intussusception, a common cause of bloody stool, and Meckel diverticulum may occasionally be suggested by ultrasound findings.
Sonography Term