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Updated: May 31, 2026

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
11:27

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn

Published on: April 7, 2023

Organ size in small infants (The OSSI Study): establishing sonographic reference intervals for abdominal organs in

Alexandros Rahn1, Sabine Pirr2, Corinna Peter2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. rahn.alexandros@mh-hannover.de.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|May 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This study establishes crucial ultrasound reference intervals for abdominal organs in preterm infants under 40 cm. These new standards aid in accurately assessing organ growth and identifying abnormalities in neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal medicine and diagnostic imaging.
  • Pediatric radiology and ultrasonography.

Background:

  • Standardized ultrasound reference intervals for abdominal organ dimensions (liver, spleen, kidneys) in preterm infants with body length < 40 cm are currently lacking.
  • Accurate organ size assessment is vital for monitoring growth and detecting abnormalities in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish standardized ultrasound reference intervals for liver length, spleen length, and renal volume in preterm infants below 40 cm body length.
  • To correlate these organ dimensions with corrected gestational age, body weight, and body length.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective examination of 57 eutrophic preterm infants (< 40 cm body length) using a standardized ultrasound protocol.
  • Measurement of craniocaudal liver length, spleen length, and renal volume.
  • Correlation analysis with corrected gestational age, body weight, and body length; calculation of reference intervals with 95% confidence intervals.

Main Results:

  • Organ dimensions showed the strongest correlation with body weight, followed by body length and corrected gestational age, with renal volume exhibiting the highest overall correlations.
  • Established reference intervals for liver, spleen, and renal size with tight 95% confidence intervals.
  • Portal vein peak velocity ranged from 9-29 cm/s; a patent ductus venosus was present in 56% of infants, who were younger at examination.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first standardized ultrasound reference intervals for key abdominal organs in small preterm infants.
  • These clinically relevant reference intervals can assist in differentiating physiological findings from pathological conditions.
  • The data supports improved clinical decision-making and neonatal care for preterm infants.

Keywords:
Abdominal organsNeonatal ultrasoundNormative valuesPreterm infantsReference intervals

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