Acoustic and Intraluminal Ultrasonic Technologies in the Diagnosis of Diseases in Gastrointestinal Tract: A Review

Qian Lu, Orly Yadid-Pecht, Dan Sadowski, Martin P. Mintchev

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/eng.2013.55B015                

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) auscultation (listening to sounds from stomach and bowel) has been applied for abdominal physical assessment for many years. This article evaluates the technique involved in listening to both bowel and stomach sounds and the significance of both normal and abnormal GI auscultation findings. Moreover, intraluminal ultrasonic techniques have been widely used for gastrointestinal disease diagnosis by providing intraluminal images since 1980s, this article also reviews the existing intraluminal ultrasonic technology for diagnosing of GI disorders.

Keywords

Auscultation; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Sound; Intraluminal Ultrasonic

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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