Screening Sonography in the Prehospital Setting: A Case Report on Transforming Clinical Decisions

Screening ultrasound has proven highly valuable for the early diagnosis of acute conditions in prehospital settings, particularly in basic emergency services located in peripheral areas with limited access to advanced imaging and laboratory diagnostics. This case report demonstrates the utility of ultrasound in identifying acute medical situations, even in complex patients undergoing oncologic treatment. When performed by radiographers with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on academic training, screening ultrasound can facilitate the early recognition of critical findings and support immediate clinical decisions. The emphasis is not on the long-term management of the underlying pathology but on the decisive role ultrasound plays in guiding acute clinical care, as illustrated by the following case: a patient with cancer, recently operated for an intestinal tumor and receiving treatment for a pelvic neoplasm, presented twice on the same day to a basic emergency service with subtle abdominal pain. On the second visit, a screening ultrasound was central to guiding the patient's clinical course.