[Imaging Findings of Gastrointestinal Emergency in Infants and Young Children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric surgery
• Diagnostic imaging
• Gastroenterology

Context:

• Acute abdomen in children presents diverse etiologies, ranging from surgical emergencies to medically managed conditions.
• Accurate diagnosis is vital to guide appropriate treatment, surgical or conservative.
• Imaging plays a pivotal role in differentiating causes of pediatric acute abdominal pain.

Purpose:

• To review key conditions causing acute abdomen in pediatric patients.
• To highlight the importance of imaging in diagnosing surgical pediatric abdominal emergencies.
• To familiarize clinicians with characteristic imaging findings of common causes.

Summary:

• This review focuses on intussusception and appendicitis as leading surgical causes of acute abdomen in children.
• It also discusses other significant conditions including midgut volvulus, Meckel's diverticulum, and duplication cysts.
• Emphasis is placed on characteristic imaging findings to aid diagnosis.

Impact:

• Improved diagnostic accuracy for pediatric acute abdomen.
• Timely identification of surgical candidates, reducing delays in treatment.
• Enhanced understanding of imaging's role in managing pediatric abdominal emergencies.