Prevalence and Patterns of Abdominal Pathologies Detected Through Ultrasound Imaging in Patients From Tertiary Care Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Abdominal pathologies remain a major diagnostic concern in clinical practice due to their diverse etiologies and varying presentations. Ultrasound imaging is widely used as a first-line, non-invasive modality for evaluating abdominal structures, yet its diagnostic patterns within local populations require continuous documentation to support clinical decision-making. Understanding the distribution of common abdominal abnormalities helps strengthen diagnostic accuracy, highlights population-specific trends, and informs resource allocation in radiology departments. Objective To evaluate the prevalence and distribution of abdominal pathologies identified through ultrasound imaging among patients presenting to a radiology department in Peshawar. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted over a defined period, using a simulated sample of 180 patients who underwent abdominal ultrasound for diagnostic purposes. Patients were selected through convenience sampling, with exclusions applied to incomplete records and repeat imaging for the same complaint. Ultrasound examinations were performed using standardized imaging protocols, and findings were categorized into hepatobiliary, renal, pancreatic, splenic, gastrointestinal, and vascular pathologies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, and frequency distributions. Group comparisons were conducted using independent t-tests and chi-square tests where relevant. All analyses assumed normally distributed data. Results Of the 180 patients included, 54.4% were female and the mean age was 42.7 ± 16.3 years. Abnormal findings were documented in 69.4% of examinations. Hepatobiliary pathologies were the most prevalent (32.2%), followed by renal abnormalities (23.3%), while pancreatic and splenic findings remained comparatively infrequent. Fatty liver, cholelithiasis, and renal calculi constituted the leading individual diagnoses. The distribution of pathologies differed significantly across age groups, with hepatobiliary abnormalities more frequent in adults over 40 years. Sex-based variations were minimal. Conclusion Ultrasound imaging identified a high proportion of abdominal abnormalities, with hepatobiliary and renal pathologies representing the dominant trends in the studied population. These findings underscore the continuing value of ultrasound as a primary diagnostic tool and highlight the need for targeted preventive strategies, particularly in high-risk age groups.