CT of small-bowel obstruction in children: sensitivity and specificity.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE.:The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT in the diagnosis of small-bowel obstruction in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT scans of 30 children with surgically proven small-bowel obstruction, 22 children with ileus, and 29 children who served as controls were retrospectively reviewed by two of four interpreters who were unaware of the children's final diagnoses. Causes of obstruction in the patients included 19 adhesions, six cases of volvulus, five intussusceptions, four strictures, and two cases each of internal hernia and abscess. Eight obstructions had multiple causes. The CT scans were evaluated for the presence of small-bowel obstruction using a scale with five degrees of confidence. In cases of discrepancy of more than one level of certainty, a third interpreter was consulted. Criteria for small-bowel obstruction included a discrepancy in caliber between the proximal dilated and the more distal small bowels or generalized small-bowel dilatation (>2.5 cm) in the presence of a collapsed colon. An interpreter's rating that an obstruction was either present or probable was considered a positive finding; a rating indicating that the interpreter was not sure whether an obstruction was present or believed that an obstruction was not probable or saw normal anatomic structures was considered a negative finding for small-bowel obstruction. The cause and level of obstruction also were recorded. RESULTS: There were 26 true-positive (87%) and four false-negative (13%) interpretations for small-bowel obstruction. Among the interpretations of scans of patients with ileus, 68% were true-negative and 32% were false-positive interpretations for small-bowel obstruction. Among the control group, there were no false-positive readings. Sensitivity of CT was 87%, specificity was 86%, and accuracy was 86%. In the scans of children 2 years and younger, CT had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 0%. Of the patients with surgically confirmed levels of obstruction, the correct level of obstruction was described by both interpreters in 12 (86%) of 14 scans. The causes of obstruction were correctly identified in 14 (47%) of 30 scans. CONCLUSION: CT is both sensitive and specific for use in diagnosing small-bowel obstruction in children, especially in children older than 2 years.

CT evaluation of mediastinal masses in children: spectrum of disease with pathologic correlation.

The mediastinum is the site of a variety of benign and malignant pathological processes in children. While the chest radiograph may be the initial imaging study to suggest an abnormality, spiral or helical CT provides detailed depiction of anatomic relationships and characteristics of the mass, and may increase the likelihood of a successful examination because of shorter scan times. This article will emphasize the important CT features in the evaluation of common and uncommon mediastinal masses in children. Pathologic correlation is presented for greater understanding. In many clinical settings, CT features such as attenuation, enhancement, calcification, anatomic relationships and extent of disease may suggest a specific diagnosis for a mediastinal mass in a child.

Pancreatic disease in children and young adults: evaluation with CT.

In children with pancreatic disease, computed tomography (CT) has a primary role in the evaluation of pancreatitis, trauma, and malignancy. At CT, pancreatic abnormalities may manifest as pancreatic enlargement (tumor, acute pancreatitis), pancreatic atrophy (cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis), cystic lesions (pseudocysts, congenital simple cysts, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, von Hippel-Lindau disease, cystic fibrosis, cystic neoplasms), or fatty replacement (cystic fibrosis, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, history of steroid therapy, Cushing syndrome, Johanson-Blizzard syndrome, obesity). CT is the best modality for evaluation of pancreatitis, allowing detection of pancreatic abnormalities as well as abnormal extrapancreatic fluid collections. In children who have undergone blunt abdominal trauma, CT has been shown to be the best initial imaging study, being more sensitive than ultrasound for detection of pancreatic injury. In neoplastic conditions, CT demonstrates the extent of disease, enables characterization of the tissue components of the tumor, and allows accurate posttreatment follow-up. Although the various diseases of the pancreas may have overlapping appearances at CT, the correct diagnosis can often be made on the basis of the CT findings in combination with the clinical history, laboratory data, and the patient's age.

Small bowel obstruction in the pediatric patient: CT evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Little has been written about the use of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of small bowel obstruction (SBO) in children. The purpose of this study is to review the CT findings of SBO in a pediatric series and to increase awareness of CT as potential problem-solving tool for SBO in children. METHODS: The medical, surgical, radiographic, and CT scan records of 20 consecutive children with surgically proven SBO were retrospectively reviewed. Duodenal and neonatal obstruction was excluded. CT scans were evaluated for small and large bowel caliber, bowel wall thickening, the appearance of the mesentery, extraluminal abnormalities, and the ability to detect the cause of obstruction. RESULTS: Causes of obstruction included adhesions (nine), small bowel intussusception (four), abscess (two), segmental volvulus (two), Crohn disease (one), focal stricture (one), and internal hernia (one). Small bowel dilatation was present in 19/20 children. Small bowel caliber transition was noted in 17/19 children. Two children with no small bowel caliber transition had a collapsed colon. The colon appeared normal in caliber in nine children, collapsed in nine, and filled with stool proximally and collapsed distally in two. Small bowel thickening was present in six children and mesenteric venous engorgement in three. Specific causes of obstruction were identified on CT in nine children (45%) and could be correctly predicted in seven of nine children with adhesions. In four children, the causes were either not evident or alternate diagnoses could be made. CONCLUSION: CT can be a useful adjunct in evaluating the presence or causes of SBO in children.

CT of appendicitis in children.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to review the CT findings and to help define the role of CT in the evaluation of appendicitis in children. METHOD: Of 730 children with surgically proven appendicitis, 22 underwent preoperative CT evaluation. Their CT scans and operative and pathology records were retrospectively reviewed. The CT scans were evaluated for appendiceal wall thickness, diameter, and location, appendicoliths, pericecal inflammation, phlegmon, abscess, free fluid, small bowel dilatation, and bowel wall thickening. Criteria for diagnosing appendicitis were (a) appendiceal wall thickening (> 1 mm) or (b) presence of abscess, phlegmon, or pericecal inflammation associated with appendicolith(s). Prospective reports of ultrasound examinations performed within 2 days of the CT scans were available in 14 children and were correlated with the CT findings. RESULTS: An abnormally thickened appendix, with a diameter ranging from 9 to 18 mm, was seen in four children. Three appendices were retrocecal and one was near the cecal tip, anterior to the iliac vessels. Appendicoliths were present in 10 children, multiple in 1. Abscesses were seen in 13 of 22 children, multiple in 5. Phlegmon was seen in five children and pericecal inflammation in two. Bowel wall thickening was present in seven children and small bowel dilatation was noted in six. Other findings included free fluid, hydronephrosis, thickening of urinary bladder wall, air in the uterus and vagina, adenopathy, and thickening of the abdominal wall musculature. CT was diagnostic of appendicitis in 11 of 22 children (50%). In 14 children with both ultrasound and CT studies, CT was slightly better in diagnosing appendicitis and visualizing the abnormal appendix and was superior in defining the presence and extent of abscess and inflammation in 9 of 14 children. CONCLUSION: CT is a useful adjunct in diagnosing appendicitis in children, with a major role in cases of complicated appendicitis.

CT findings in inflammatory bowel disease in children.

CT adds valuable information in the assessment of inflammatory bowel diseases in children. Although early mucosal changes are best shown by barium studies, extramucosal and extraintestinal abnormalities are best visualized with CT. CT can be used to differentiate the various extramucosal abnormalities that may have similar appearances on barium studies, including bowel wall thickening, abscess, phlegmon, or adenopathy. Although many inflammatory conditions of bowel may have similar appearances on CT scans, a careful analysis of the appearance of the bowel wall and the associated extraintestinal abnormalities, combined with a review of the clinical and laboratory data, enables a specific diagnosis to be made in many cases.

Primary ovarian tumors in the pediatric patient: CT evaluation.

Primary ovarian tumors in the pediatric age group are rare with limited descriptions on computed tomography (CT). We describe the CT findings in a series of nine mature cystic teratomas, one immature teratoma, two granulosa cell tumors, and one undifferentiated small cell tumor. Four mature cystic teratomas were atypical in their CT appearance. The immature teratoma was distinguished by its large, irregular, diffusely calcified solid component. The malignant tumors were large and nearly totally solid, or if multicystic, contained a large solid component.

MRI evaluation of superficial soft tissue lesions in children.

The role of MRI in the evaluation of superficial soft tissue lesions in children has not been well established. We present our experience with MRI in the evaluation of nineteen children with a variety of cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions. We find MRI to have a definite role in the evaluation of these lesions particularly when determining extent or depth of involvement would affect medical or surgical management. MRI has a less well defined role in tissue determination. Spin echo T1 and T2 weighted images were sufficient for evaluation in most cases. Fat suppression images added additional information in fatty tumors. The MRI appearance of juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and lipoblastomatosis has not been previously described and is included in this study.

Eosinophilic granuloma simulating an aggressive rib neoplasm: CT evaluation.

Eosinophilic granuloma of bone can pose difficulties in diagnosis. We report a case of eosinophilic granuloma of rib origin in a child presenting with an enlarging chest mass whose appearance on computed tomography suggested Ewing sarcoma. Eosinophilic granuloma should be included in the differential diagnosis of an aggressive rib mass on CT in the pediatric patient.

Hepatic masses in infants and children: CT evaluation.

Hepatic masses are uncommon in children. Although some lesions may have overlapping appearances on CT, a careful analysis of the CT characteristics of the lesion, in combination with the age of the patient and the clinical and laboratory data, can lead to a specific diagnosis in many cases [1-5]. In this pictorial essay, the spectrum of hepatic masses in children is reviewed, with emphasis on the key CT findings that help in differentiating the various lesions.

Crohn disease in the pediatric patient: CT evaluation.

Computed tomographic (CT) scans and medical records of 25 children (age range, 10-18 years) with pathologically proved Crohn disease were reviewed to better define the role of CT in the management of pediatric patients with Crohn disease. CT findings included small bowel thickening (range, 5-10 mm) (n = 20), colonic wall thickening (range, 6-15 mm) (n = 15), and small bowel dilation (n = 5). Mesenteric abnormalities such as adenopathy and focal fatty proliferation were seen in 11 to 18 patients, respectively. Extraluminal complications were easily identified with CT. Abscesses were noted in seven patients, inflammatory masses in four, and perirectal or perineal inflammation in 10. Fistulas were detected in four patients. The authors conclude that CT should be the initial imaging study performed in children with known Crohn disease and a changing pattern of clinical symptoms.

Ultrasound diagnosis of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt.

There are few radiologic descriptions of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts and all in adults. A case is reported of a newborn where the diagnosis of shunt was made with color Doppler and where the shunt resolved spontaneously at one year of age. Proposed etiologies for intrahepatic portovenous shunts are discussed.