Abdominal Radiograph and Abdominal Ultrasound for Necrotizing Enterocolitis Diagnosis and Management

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal emergencies in preterm infants and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Although NEC is localized to the bowel, there are serious associated systemic complications with significant morbidity and mortality. Historically, the diagnostic standard has been plain abdominal radiography. However, the availability of abdominal ultrasound has been emerging as a complementary diagnostic tool allowing for direct visualization of the bowel and abdominal cavity. This article reviews the roles of both modalities with particular emphasis on the complementary role of utilizing, standardizing, and integrating ultrasound for NEC diagnosis.