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[Ultrasound diagnosis of malignant diseases in pediatrics]
Insights
Grey scale abdominal ultrasound effectively diagnosed abdominal masses and monitored pediatric cancer patients. This imaging technique accurately identified tumors, assessed treatment response, and detected complications, reducing the need for invasive procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Oncology
Context:
- Grey scale abdominal ultrasound is a primary diagnostic tool for pediatric abdominal conditions.
- Evaluation of abdominal masses and follow-up of pediatric cancer patients are critical clinical challenges.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of grey scale abdominal ultrasound in children.
- To assess its role in identifying intra-abdominal tumors, monitoring malignant diseases, and managing treatment complications.
Summary:
- Ultrasound was used in 146 children for evaluating abdominal masses and following cancer patients.
- It accurately identified tumors in 6 of 93 suspected cases and ruled out recurrence/metastases in 32 of 35 patients.
- Ultrasound also assessed treatment response and complications like hydronephrosis, aiding in kidney preservation.
Impact:
- Ultrasound significantly improved diagnostic accuracy for pediatric abdominal masses.
- It facilitated effective monitoring of malignant diseases and treatment-related complications.
- The high accuracy of sonography reduced the need for invasive diagnostic methods in pediatric oncology.
Abstract:
Grey scale abdominal ultrasound was used in a total of 146 children for primary diagnostic evaluation of abdominal masses and for follow-up of patients with malignant diseases. Of 93 patients examined for a suspected abdominal mass, 6 showed to have an intraabdominal tumour. In each case the site of tumour origin could be ascertained by ultrasound. The remaining 87 patients showed no pathological findings and have been tumour-free at routine follow-up studies. Sonography proved to be also useful in the follow-up of patients with malignant diseases. Local recurrence or metastases could be ruled out on the basis of sonographic findings alone in 32 out of 35 surgically treated patients, in 3 children with non-resectable tumours, changes in tumour size during radio- and chemotherapy could be studied. Diagnostic ultrasound was also of great importance in the assessment of complications after surgery, radio- and chemotherapy. So the early detection of hydronephrosis in 2 patients with treated nephroblastoma prevented a damage of the remaining kidney. Due to the high accuracy of sonography, invasive diagnostic methods could be restricted to a small number of patients in whom ultrasound failed to provide adequate information.