Abdominal radiograph pearls and pitfalls for the emergency department radiologist: a pictorial review

Abdominal plain films are often the first imaging examination performed on a patient with abdominal pain in the emergency department. Radiograph findings can help guide clinical management and the need for advanced imaging. A pictorial review of a range of abdominal radiograph findings is presented, including bowel gas patterns, abdominal organ evaluation, pathologic gas, calcifications, implanted devices, and foreign bodies.