Question

Gasless abdomen seen in-

• A. Ulcerative colitis
• B. Acute pancreatitis
• C. Intussusception
• D. Necrotising enterocolitis

Hint:

Which pancreatic emergency fills the gut with fluid, not gas?

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: A gasless abdomen is a plain radiograph showing very little or no bowel gas. It occurs when fluid replaces gas in the gut, often due to excess vomiting or fluid-filled intestine.
Step 2: Acute pancreatitis classically produces this picture. Its plain-film signs include the renal halo sign, gasless abdomen, ground-glass appearance, colon cut-off sign and sentinel loop.
Step 3: Therefore acute pancreatitis is correct. Ulcerative colitis, intussusception and necrotising enterocolitis show abnormal gas patterns (such as toxic megacolon gas, target sign, or pneumatosis intestinalis) rather than a gasless abdomen.