Paediatric abdominal ultrasound

Ultrasound is widely used in the imaging of many paediatric conditions. Children are excellent candidates for ultrasound examination as they are generally smaller than adults with less body fat allowing excellent quality images to be obtained. In addition, ultrasound has several advantages over other cross-sectional imaging modalities used in paediatrics, including the lack of exposure to ionizing radiation, the avoidance of intravenous and oral contrast agents and the relative ease with which examinations can be performed without the need for sedation (De Bruyn, 2005). This article will focus on some aspects of paediatric abdominal ultrasound, namely renal tract abnormalities, common paediatric abdominal tumours and some common conditions presenting as acute abdominal emergencies.