This talk provides a practical introduction to bowel ultrasound for clinicians and sonographers involved in abdominal imaging. It will outline a systematic approach to performing a bowel ultrasound examination, including patient preparation, probe selection, scanning technique, and optimisation tips to improve diagnostic confidence. Normal sonographic appearances of the small bowel and colon will be reviewed, with emphasis on recognising key anatomical landmarks and expected wall characteristics. The session will also cover commonly encountered bowel pathologies, highlighting typical ultrasound features and potential pitfalls. Through a combination of image examples and practical guidance, the talk aims to build a solid foundation for incorporating bowel ultrasound into routine clinical practice and acute settings, supporting timely diagnosis and improved patient care.

Abdominal ultrasound is a routine part of clinical practice, yet occasionally a scan reveals something completely unexpected. These rare and unusual findings challenge our assumptions, test our diagnostic skills, and remind us that no two patients are the same.

This presentation explores a collection of fascinating abdominal case studies featuring pathologies and imaging appearances that are rarely encountered in everyday practice. From unusual presentations of common diseases to truly uncommon diagnoses, each case will demonstrate how careful scanning, pattern recognition, and clinical correlation can uncover surprising pathology.

Through these cases, the presentation aims to spark curiosity, expand diagnostic awareness, and encourage sonographers to think beyond the routine when confronted with unfamiliar or atypical findings.

Objectives:
1. To recognise and accurately diagnose ectopic splenic tissue with ultrasound
2. To increase confidence in constructing clinically useful reports for focal splenic lesions
3. To understand the great value that contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) adds in splenic imaging

The spleen has been called the "forgotten organ" because splenic pathology is usually clinically silent and is less common than pathology in most other abdominal organs. Ultrasound practitioners will, however, regularly encounter splenic abnormalities and this will usually be an unexpected finding.
In this talk we will review the appearances of ectopic splenic tissue (splenunculi and splenosis) and the threat that they can pose for diagnostic error. We will then consider focal splenic lesions, understanding that characterisation is often more difficult that for lesions in other abdominal organs (this applies to all imaging modalities), and that ultrasound is a very powerful tool for splenic evaluation. The importance of risk stratification in each individual patient when considering the relevance of an incidentally detected lesion will be emphasised. We will then develop an imaging algorithm for managing focal splenic lesions, showing where CEUS helps, and understand when other imaging modalities, particularly PET CT, can add additional value to US. The aim will be to increase your confidence in accurate report writing that includes recommendations for management that can help and guide the referring clinician.