Abdominal X-ray

Abdominal X-ray - An X-ray examination of the abdominal contents. X-rays can show whether any organ is enlarged and can detect swallowed foreign bodies in the digestive tract. They also show patterns of fluid and gas: distended loops of bowel containing fluid often indicate an obstruction (see intestine, obstruction of); gas outside the intestine indicates intestinal perforation.

Calcium, which is opaque to X-rays, is present in most kidney stones (see calculus, urinary tract) and in some gallstones and aortic aneurysms; these can sometimes be detected on an abdominal X-ray.