Imaging of paediatric splenic injury with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Area of Science:

• Pediatric imaging
• Diagnostic ultrasound
• Radiology

Background:

• Traumatic splenic injury is a significant concern in pediatric trauma.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management.
• Conventional ultrasound (US) can have limitations in detecting splenic hematomas.

Observation:

• Two pediatric patients with traumatic splenic injuries were evaluated.
• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was utilized for monitoring.
• Unenhanced US was insufficient for diagnosing splenic hematoma in both cases.

Findings:

• CEUS successfully visualized and characterized the splenic parenchymal injury.
• In one case, CEUS findings showed excellent agreement with CT results.
• In the second case, CEUS provided sufficient diagnostic information, obviating the need for CT.

Implications:

• CEUS demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing pediatric splenic injuries.
• This technique offers a valuable, non-invasive alternative to CT in specific clinical scenarios.
• CEUS may improve diagnostic accuracy and potentially reduce radiation exposure in pediatric trauma patients.