Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2011 Sep;14(3):245-250. 10.5223/kjpgn.2011.14.3.245.

Usefulness and Pitfall of Abdominal Ultrasonographic Examination by a Pediatrician in Children

• Park JH

• KMID: 2276883
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/kjpgn.2011.14.3.245

Abstract

Ultrasonographic examination plays an important role in non-invasive and prompt screening examinations in detecting abdominal diseases. In this review, the author's experience of the usefulness and pitfalls of ultrasonographic examinations in children with gastrointestinal symptoms is presented. A total of 1,000 cases of children who underwent ultrasonographic evaluation in the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital were reviewed. The main causes leading to ultrasonographic evaluation were abdominal pain (43.9%), vomiting (17.3%), elevated liver enzymes (11.8%), and jaundice (9.8%). Abnormal ultrasonographic findings accounted for 57.9% of cases. The major abnormal findings were mesenteric lymphadenitis (29.2%), fatty liver (12.1%), hepatitis (6.4%), hepatosplenomegaly (6.2%), and acute appendicitis (4.8%). The major findings in children with abdominal pain were mesenteric lymphadenitis (32.6%), intussusception (2.7%), and acute appendicitis (2.7%). The major findings in children with vomiting were mesenteric lymphadenitis (12.7%), hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (10.4%), acute appendicitis (3.5%). The major ultrasonographic findings in children with urinary tract diseases were hydronephrosis (45.4%), urolithiasis (21.5%) and cystic renal disease (18.1%). Ultrasonography performed by pediatricians is advantageous because pediatricians are able to perform the procedure with clinical information at the right time.

Keyword

Abdominal ultrasonography; Children; Pediatrician

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Appendicitis
Child
Fatty Liver
Hepatitis
Humans
Hydronephrosis
Intussusception
Jaundice
Kidney Diseases, Cystic
Liver
Mass Screening
Mesenteric Lymphadenitis
Pediatrics
Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic
Urolithiasis
Urologic Diseases
Vomiting

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