Radiology Update in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Significant advances in radiological techniques have led to improved care of ill and injured children in the Emergency Department. This work reviews the most recent findings on the still-controversial value of imaging for the diagnosis and treatment of acute scrotal and abdominal pain in the pediatric age group. The role of color Doppler ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of suspected testicular torsion is stressed, especially in low-risk patients, as are the diagnostic benefits of sonography in children with possible intussusception – where the yield of plain films is low -provided that operator training is sound. The typical imaging pictures are described, and the place of imaging in the therapeutic armamentarium is weighed against other available modalities. In addition, the advantages and limitations of ultrasound and computed tomography in the diagnosis of suspected appendicitis are discussed, together with the possibility of their combined use. MeSH Words: Imaging, intussusception, testicular torsion, appendicitis