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Imaging in acute abdomen

Daya Shankar Mishra1, Sarita Magu, Namita Sharma

  • 1Department of Radiology, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|March 7, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Ultrasound (US) is a valuable tool for diagnosing pediatric acute abdomen, showing high accuracy for intussusception and appendicitis. While effective, US has limitations in identifying causes of intestinal obstruction like congenital bands.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Abdominal Emergencies

Background:

  • Acute abdomen in children presents a diagnostic challenge.
  • Imaging modalities play a crucial role in identifying the underlying cause.
  • Ultrasound (US) is increasingly utilized in pediatric emergency settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define the precise role of ultrasound in diagnosing pediatric acute abdomen.
  • To identify the limitations of ultrasound in this clinical context.

Main Methods:

  • A study evaluated 50 children under 14 years with acute abdomen using ultrasound and other imaging.
  • Specific diagnostic performance metrics (sensitivity, specificity, predictive values) were calculated for conditions like intussusception and appendicitis.

Main Results:

  • Ultrasound demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for intussusception (88.2%, 100%) and appendicitis (91.6%, 97%).
  • Overall sensitivity for diagnosing specific causes of acute abdomen was 77.5%.
  • Limitations were noted in diagnosing acute intestinal obstruction due to congenital bands and adhesions.

Conclusions:

  • Ultrasound is recommended as the primary imaging modality for pediatric acute abdomen.
  • Plain radiography, contrast studies, and CT may be necessary for definitive diagnosis in complex cases.
Abstract

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