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The role of ultrasound in the investigation of childhood abdominal pain

Radiology Department, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK

• Ultrasound in children is commonly used as a means of exclusion rather than as an isolated diagnostic aid.
  
• In an acute surgical situation, a plain abdominal film is performed initially, with ultrasound being requested in those situations where the abdominal film has proved non-diagnostic or inconclusive.
  
• Ultrasound can be a valuable method of investigating the child with abdominal pain and may provide a differential diagnosis for many of the more common childhood pathologies.
  
• The lack of ionising radiation involved in the use of ultrasound is particularly important in the paediatric age group and can facilitate the triage process for further imaging or appropriate onward referral.
  
• Ultrasound is useful for follow-up imaging in complex or recurrent cases.
  
• Knowledge of normal anatomical variants and the pathology specific to children is essential.
  

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