Computerized tomography of the epigastric organs

The diagnosing of diseases of the liver, the pancreas, and the biliary tract has been significantly improved since the introduction of fast computed tomographs which permit examinations under respiratory standstill. In the demonstration and exclusion of grawing and displacing processes in the liver and in the pancreas, computerized tomography is highly reliable. In the differential diagnosis on the icterus, it is even possible in a high percentage of the cases, besides demonstrating the biliary obstruction to achieve an explanation of the cause or at least to localise the obstruction. Complications occurring in the course of a pancreatitis can be recognized early and estimated as to their extensions. An influence on the setting up of indications to carry out other conventional methods can already be noticed. (orig.)