Paediatric orbital ultrasound: Tips and tricks

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Orbital structures are well-suited for ultrasound due to their superficial location and the eye's cystic composition.
• Orbital ultrasound is underutilized in general practice, often overshadowed by other cross-sectional imaging modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental principles, clinical applications, and techniques of orbital ultrasound in pediatric patients.
• To highlight the diagnostic utility of orbital ultrasound in pediatric orbital and ocular conditions through case examples.

Main Methods:

• Review of basic principles and techniques of orbital ultrasound.
• Demonstration of clinical utility via selected pediatric case studies.

Main Results:

• Ultrasound effectively diagnoses posterior segment pathologies, particularly those causing opacification of the eye's light-conducting media.
• It is beneficial for diagnosing orbital pathologies, distinguishing between solid and cystic lesions, and assessing vascularity with color Doppler.

Conclusions:

• Orbital ultrasound offers significant advantages in pediatric imaging, including the absence of ionizing radiation and reduced need for sedation.
• It serves as a practical initial investigation when ophthalmoscopy is limited and a valuable problem-solving tool for diagnostic dilemmas.