CT findings in acute peritonitis: a pattern-based approach

Abstract

Many inflammatory and infectious entities may acutely affect the peritoneum causing a thickeningof its layers. Unfortunately, several acute peritoneal diseases can have overlapping features, bothclinically and at imaging. Therefore, the awareness of the clinical context, although useful, may besometimes insufficient to identify the underlying cause. This article provides a specific computedtomography-based approach including morphologic characteristics of peritoneal thickening (e.g.,smooth, irregular, or nodular) and ancillary findings to narrow the differential diagnosis of acuteperitonitis.