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Transabdominal sonography of the normal gastroesophageal junction in children
F Esposito1, R Lombardi, A C Grasso
1Department of Pediatric Radiology, University Federico II of Napoli, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80100 Naples, Italy.
Insights
Sonography easily visualizes the gastroesophageal junction in children. This study provides normal sonographic measurements for the abdominal esophagus in healthy pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric imaging
- Gastrointestinal sonography
- Anatomy and physiology
Background:
- Sonography is crucial for identifying gastroesophageal junction abnormalities.
- Understanding normal sonographic anatomy is essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Establishing reference values in children is vital for pediatric gastroenterology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the normal sonographic appearance of the gastroesophageal junction in children.
- To document variations in the sonographic appearance of the gastroesophageal junction.
- To measure the abdominal esophagus in asymptomatic, healthy children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 124 healthy children (2 days to 12 years).
- Abdominal sonography performed with specific transducer placement and beam direction.
- Measurements of abdominal esophagus length and wall thickness were obtained.
Main Results:
- The gastroesophageal junction was visualized in all participants.
- Mean abdominal esophagus length varied from 18 mm (newborns) to 34 mm (children >6 years).
- Esophageal wall thickness ranged from 2.4 mm to 5.7 mm.
Conclusions:
- Real-time sonography effectively visualizes the gastroesophageal junction in healthy children.
- Measurements of the abdominal esophagus are readily achievable using sonography.
- This study provides valuable normative data for pediatric gastroesophageal imaging.
Purpose:
Because sonography identifies abnormalities of the gastroesophageal junction, it is essential to understand the normal sonographic anatomy. The aim of this study was to determine the normal sonographic appearance of the gastroesophageal junction and its variations and to provide measurements of the abdominal esophagus in asymptomatic, healthy children.
Methods:
In this prospective study, 124 healthy children (75 boys and 49 girls), aged 2 days-12 years, underwent abdominal sonography. With the patient in a supine position, the transducer was placed under the xiphoid and the ultrasound beam was directed cephalad through the window of the left lobe of the liver. The length of the abdominal esophagus was measured from the point at which it penetrated the diaphragm to the gastroesophageal junction. The thickness was measured on the anterior wall at the midpoint of the abdominal esophagus.
Results:
The gastroesophageal junction was identified by sonography in all of the children. The mean length of the abdominal portion of the esophagus ranged from 18 mm in the newborns to 34 mm in children older than 6 years. The wall thickness ranged from 2.4 mm to 5.7 mm.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that visualization of the gastroesophageal junction and measurement of the abdominal esophagus are readily achievable with real-time sonography in healthy children.
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