Ultrasonographic features of children presenting with abdominal pain : normal versus abnormal

Abstract

This thesis describes five ultrasonogaphic studies in children with abdominal pain. The normal appendix can be visualized by ultrasound in 82% of the children without abdominal complaints, according to the first study. In cases of non-depiction of the appendix in children with a clinical suspicion of appendicitis, the ultrasonographic presence of secondary signs of appendicitis is a strong indicator of this diagnosis. In the absence of these ultrasonographic signs acute appendicitis can be ruled out. The third study shows that increased renal cortex echogenicity in children with acute illness is a transient feature and does not necessarily indicate renal disease. It should alert the radiologist to search the abdomen more thoroughly for a cause of the acute illness, such as appendicitis. The fourth study showed that ultrasonography can differentiate between ileoileal and ileocolic intussusceptions. The diameter and the length of the intussusception are the main criteria. Finally, the last study shows no relation between enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes and parasitic intestinal infections in children with recurrent abdominal pain. In addition, this study shows organic abnormalities in less than 5% of the children with recurrent abdominal pain at ultrasound.