The use of abdominal imaging studies in children visiting emergency department was variable and unsystematic

As imaging is used for various reasons in children with acute gastrointestinal complaints, we evaluated the indications and diagnostic yield of abdominal imaging, particularly ultrasound at emergency department (ED).

Indications and imaging reports of consecutive children who had undergone abdominal imaging in general, surgical and paediatric EDs in the Tampere University Hospital, Finland, in 2015 were collected. Symptoms, clinical findings, imaging indications and findings were categorised and further analysed.

Altogether 394 imaging studies, 310 ultrasounds, 72 X-rays and 12 computed tomographies (CT), for 348 children (55% boys) aged 0-16.9 years, median 7.1 years, were performed. The most common indications for ultrasound were suspected appendicitis or infection (36%) and explanation for symptoms (32%), for X-ray suspected foreign body (39%) and obstruction (39%) and for CT trauma (50%). The cause of the symptoms or a clinically significant finding was established in 23% of ultrasounds, varying from 0% to 50% depending on the indication, symptoms and age.

There was wide variation in the indications and yield of abdominal imaging. The clinical benefits, particularly those of US, were often questionable, even leading to delayed diagnosis and complications. More uniform imaging guidelines are needed in the paediatric ED.