Flash information
- Technique
- Ultrasound
- Observation
- Anechoic fluid abuts abdominal structures.
- Limitation
- Black appearance does not identify fluid composition.
Definition
Free intraperitoneal fluid.
Reading method
Identify organs and adjacent fluid spaces.
Morphological description
Anechoic fluid abuts abdominal structures.
Interpretation and diagnostic limits
The source documents ascites without establishing its cause here.
Differential diagnoses
Distinguish free fluid, loculated collections and cystic structures.
Clinical correlation
Correlate abdominal examination and hepatic or cardiac context.
Clinical impact
Pain, fever or deterioration warrants assessment.
Pitfalls
Black appearance does not identify fluid composition.
Take-home message
Recognise fluid before investigating its cause.
Media source & rights
- Author
- Drahreg01
- Original source
- Drahreg01 · Ascite à l’échographie · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Licence
- CC BY-SA 3.0
- Changes
- Full image retained; WebP conversion and proportional resize. No clinical alteration. Derivative retains the source licence.
- Dimensions
- 960 × 783 px
- Check
- 2026-10-14