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Updated: Mar 16, 2026
Author Spotlight: Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Gastric Content Assessment and Risk Stratification in Perioperative Care
Published on: September 22, 2023
Abdominal ultrasonography of the pediatric gastrointestinal tract
Heather I Gale1, Michael S Gee1, Sjirk J Westra1
1Heather I Gale, Michael S Gee, Sjirk J Westra, Katherine Nimkin, Department of Radiology, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
Insights
Pediatric gastrointestinal ultrasound offers real-time imaging without sedation. Advanced techniques enhance the detection of various childhood bowel conditions, from appendicitis to rare neoplasms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Gastrointestinal Imaging
- Medical Ultrasound
Background:
- Ultrasound is a key non-invasive tool for pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) pathology.
- It provides real-time imaging without sedation or contrast, crucial for children.
- Recent technological advancements have further refined its diagnostic capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current ultrasound imaging techniques for pediatric GI tract evaluation.
- To describe normal sonographic anatomy in children.
- To outline characteristic sonographic features of common and uncommon pediatric GI disorders.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing high-resolution probes, color Doppler, harmonic, and panoramic imaging.
- Employing graded compression and cine clips for dynamic assessment.
- Incorporating oral and intravenous contrast agents for enhanced visualization of bowel wall pathology.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound effectively detects common pediatric GI conditions like appendicitis, pyloric stenosis, and intussusception.
- It aids in evaluating prenatal findings and acquired conditions such as hematomas, infections, and hernias.
- Sonography can also identify rare neoplasms, vascular issues, and foreign bodies.
Conclusions:
- Advanced ultrasound techniques significantly improve the detection of pediatric bowel pathology.
- It is a versatile modality for diagnosing a wide spectrum of congenital and acquired GI conditions in children.
- Comprehensive ultrasound exams can assess disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease.
Abstract:
Ultrasound is an invaluable imaging modality in the evaluation of pediatric gastrointestinal pathology; it can provide real-time evaluation of the bowel without the need for sedation or intravenous contrast. Recent improvements in ultrasound technique can be utilized to improve detection of bowel pathology in children: Higher resolution probes, color Doppler, harmonic and panoramic imaging are excellent tools in this setting. Graded compression and cine clips provide dynamic information and oral and intravenous contrast agents aid in detection of bowel wall pathology. Ultrasound of the bowel in children is typically a targeted exam; common indications include evaluation for appendicitis, pyloric stenosis and intussusception. Bowel abnormalities that are detected prenatally can be evaluated after birth with ultrasound. Likewise, acquired conditions such as bowel hematoma, bowel infections and hernias can be detected with ultrasound. Rare bowel neoplasms, vascular disorders and foreign bodies may first be detected with sonography, as well. At some centers, comprehensive exams of the gastrointestinal tract are performed on children with inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease to evaluate for disease activity or to confirm the diagnosis. The goal of this article is to review up-to-date imaging techniques, normal sonographic anatomy, and characteristic sonographic features of common and uncommon disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract in children.
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