abdominal distension

A 3-year-old child is brought to the paediatric clinic by their parents due to a 2-month history of increasing abdominal distension, poor appetite, and occasional constipation. On physical examination, a firm, irregular mass is palpable in the upper abdomen, crossing the midline. Vital signs are stable. Initial blood tests, including full blood count and liver function tests, are within normal limits. An abdominal CT scan is performed (image provided). Considering the findings demonstrated in the image, which of the following investigations represents the most appropriate next step in establishing a definitive diagnosis and guiding further management?

A 68-year-old male presents to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain, distension, and obstipation for the past 3 days. He reports a history of multiple abdominal surgeries for adhesions. His vital signs are: HR 110 bpm, BP 110/70 mmHg, RR 22 breaths/min, SpO2 97% on room air, and temperature 37.8°C. Physical examination reveals a distended abdomen with high-pitched bowel sounds. An upright abdominal X-ray is performed, as shown. Given the clinical context and the findings on the imaging, what is the MOST appropriate next imaging investigation to guide management?

A 45-year-old woman presents with a 3-month history of increasing abdominal bloating and occasional pelvic discomfort. She reports normal menstrual cycles and no weight loss or changes in bowel habits. Physical examination is unremarkable except for mild abdominal distension. Routine blood tests, including CA-125, are within normal limits. A CT scan of the pelvis is performed, with a relevant axial image shown. Considering the clinical presentation, the normal CA-125 level, and the findings demonstrated in the image, what is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 3-year-old child is investigated for a 2-month history of increasing abdominal distension and intermittent pain. On examination, a firm, non-tender mass is palpable in the upper abdomen. Initial blood tests reveal mild anaemia. Vital signs are stable. The provided image was obtained as part of the diagnostic evaluation. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated, which of the following investigations is most crucial for determining the extent of disease spread, a key factor in guiding subsequent management decisions for this paediatric patient?

A 3-year-old presents with a 2-month history of increasing abdominal distension and intermittent pain. Physical examination reveals a firm, non-tender mass in the upper abdomen. Blood tests show mild anaemia. Vitals are stable. This CT scan was performed as part of the initial workup. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following investigations is the most critical next step for accurate staging and risk stratification to guide appropriate management in this paediatric patient?

A 62-year-old woman presents with a 4-month history of increasing abdominal distension, bloating, and a sensation of early fullness after eating. She has also noticed a gradual increase in her waist circumference and reports feeling more fatigued than usual. Her medical history includes well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia, managed with metformin and atorvastatin respectively. She is post-menopausal, having completed menopause 10 years ago. On physical examination, her vital signs are stable: blood pressure 128/78 mmHg, heart rate 68 bpm, respiratory rate 14/min, and temperature 36.6°C. Abdominal examination reveals moderate distension and a firm, irregular mass is palpable extending from the pelvis into the lower abdomen. Bowel sounds are present and normal. A recent transvaginal ultrasound was inconclusive due to the size of the mass, prompting a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, an axial image from which is shown. Given the clinical presentation and the findings on the image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?

A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with a 3-week history of increasing abdominal distension, intermittent pain, and decreased activity. Parents also report occasional flushing episodes and unexplained fevers. On examination, a large, firm, irregular mass is palpable in the upper abdomen, extending across the midline. Vital signs are stable, and routine blood tests, including full blood count, electrolytes, and liver function tests, are within normal limits. An abdominal CT scan is performed (image provided). Based on the findings demonstrated in the image and the clinical presentation, which of the following investigations is most critical for accurate staging and risk stratification in this likely diagnosis?

A 68-year-old male presents to the ED with colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. He reports no bowel movements for 3 days. His abdomen is distended and tender. An X-ray is performed. Given the findings, what is the MOST likely underlying cause of this patient's condition?

A 4-year-old presents with abdominal distension and back pain for 2 months. Exam reveals a firm, fixed abdominal mass. Vitals are normal. An abdominal CT is performed (axial view shown). Which lab finding would MOST strongly support the suspected diagnosis?

A 62-year-old male with a history of hepatitis C presents with new onset jaundice and abdominal distension. Ascites is confirmed on examination. The patient denies alcohol use. An ultrasound with contrast is performed, as shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A 68-year-old male presents with abdominal pain, distension, and obstipation for 3 days, with a history of multiple abdominal surgeries. Vitals are HR 110, BP 110/70, T 37.8. Exam shows a distended abdomen with high-pitched bowel sounds. An upright abdominal X-ray is shown. Considering the clinical context and the imaging findings, which of the following is the MOST likely expected outcome with initial non-operative management?

A 68-year-old male presents to the ED with abdominal distension, obstipation, and vomiting. He reports a history of multiple abdominal surgeries. An upright abdominal X-ray is performed. Based on the image, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A 75-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a 24-hour history of worsening colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and multiple episodes of bilious vomiting. She reports no passage of flatus or stool for the past 18 hours. Her past medical history includes an open appendectomy 30 years ago and a hysterectomy 10 years ago. On examination, she is afebrile, heart rate 92 bpm, blood pressure 130/80 mmHg, respiratory rate 18/min, oxygen saturation 98% on room air. Her abdomen is distended and diffusely tender to palpation, with high-pitched tinkling bowel sounds on auscultation. A plain abdominal X-ray series, including the image provided, was obtained. Considering the patient's clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following represents the most appropriate immediate next step in her management?

A 72-year-old male presents with abdominal distension, vomiting, and inability to pass flatus for 48 hours. He has a history of prior bowel resection. Examination reveals a tympanitic abdomen and tenderness to palpation. His vitals are stable. An abdominal X-ray is performed, as shown. Considering the clinical context and the radiographic findings, what is the MOST likely underlying cause of this presentation?

A 68-year-old male with a history of multiple abdominal surgeries presents to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain, distension, and obstipation for the past 3 days. His vital signs are: HR 110 bpm, BP 110/70 mmHg, RR 22 breaths/min, SpO2 97% on room air, and temperature 37.8°C. Physical examination reveals a distended abdomen with high-pitched bowel sounds. An upright abdominal X-ray is performed, as shown. Given the clinical context and the radiographic findings, which demonstrate significant intraluminal gas accumulation proximal to the likely site of obstruction, what is the predominant source of this gas?

A 68-year-old male presents with a 3-day history of abdominal pain, distension, and obstipation, with a background of multiple abdominal surgeries. Vitals show HR 110, BP 110/70, T 37.8°C. Physical exam reveals a distended abdomen with high-pitched bowel sounds. An upright abdominal X-ray is shown. Considering the clinical findings and the radiographic appearance, which of the following potential complications is the MOST critical to evaluate for urgently?

A 72-year-old male presents with abdominal distension, vomiting, and inability to pass flatus for 48 hours. He has a history of prior bowel resection. Examination reveals a tympanitic abdomen and tenderness to palpation. His vitals are stable. An abdominal X-ray is performed, as shown. Considering the clinical context and the radiographic findings, what is the primary purpose of inserting a nasogastric tube in this patient?

A 3-year-old presents with abdominal distension, irritability, and periorbital ecchymosis. Examination reveals a firm, irregular abdominal mass. The provided image is an axial CT slice. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the image, which of the following biochemical markers is MOST likely to be significantly elevated?

A 72-year-old male presents with abdominal distension, vomiting, and inability to pass flatus for 48 hours. He has a history of prior bowel resection. Examination reveals a tympanitic abdomen and tenderness to palpation. His vitals are stable. An abdominal X-ray is performed, as shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?