The acute abdomen in the pediatric age group.

T HE DEPENDENCE on radiographic information of the acute abdomen in the pediatric patient is frequently more important than in the older individual because of the inability of the young to describe his clinical problems. The single most important radiographic procedure is scout film study of the abdomen, in both supine and upright or decubitus positions. Subsequent upper or lower gastrointestinal tract studies are frequently indicated depending on the initial roentgen findings and clinical correlation. Although many of the same causes of acute abdomen in the adult are seen in the pediatric patient, only those conditions commonly found in the pediatric age group are included in this chapter. These are divided into congenital and acquired conditions.