[Imaging procedures and follow-up in pediatric surgical diseases]

The most important modern imaging diagnostics are the ultrasound, scintigraphy, computed tomography and recently the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The diagnostic tools should be used one after another, always starting with the easiest to perform, with low risk and no harm to the patient, at low costs. In routine diagnostic procedures (e.g. blunt abdominal trauma) this will be the sonography. The result of the ultrasound may give rise to other, but more invasive methods. Computed tomography, e.g. may give more detailed information about position, size and operability of a tumor whereas scintigraphy has its strong point in disclosing functional organ disorders (e.g. kidney, liver and especially in splenic transplants).