Ultrasonography of the acute pediatric abdomen

In this article I have attempted to illustrate just how potentially useful the current ultrasound examination can be in the evaluation of the acute pediatric abdomen. It must be understood, however, that not all radiologists agree on the merits of ultrasound in the evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract, and in practice the choice will reflect the radiologist's experience and expertise as well as the confidence level of the referring physician. Proficiency in pediatric ultrasonography is not gained overnight and cannot be attained by those who only occasionally perform such examinations. Certainly, unskilled use of ultrasound quickly leads to disasters and to profound mistrust by referring clinicians. Nevertheless, in experienced hands ultrasonography can provide valuable information, much of which cannot be obtained by any other imaging modality, and thus will change forever the radiologist's role in the work-up of the acute pediatric abdomen.