Table of Contents
Page created on February 23, 2022. Not updated since.
Introduction
Ultrasound is radiation-free and is therefore often used in paediatrics, where radiation is always kept to a minimum.
Cranial ultrasound
In neonates, ultrasound can be used to visualise the brain, as the skull hasn’t closed completely yet. It can be used to look for:
- Ventricular dilatation/hydrocephalus
- Intracranial haemorrhage
- Cerebral anomaly
Chest ultrasound
- Echocardiography -> congenital heart disease, heart failure
- Pneumothorax
- Ultrasound-guided placement of chest drain
Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal tumour
- Acute appendicitis
- Pyloric stenosis
- Intussusception
- Assessment of urinary tract, kidney -> obstruction, stone, renal cyst/mass
- Biliary atresia
- Assessment of liver -> cirrhosis
- Ovaries, uterus -> for assessing progress of puberty
Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Developmental dysplasia of the hip
- Arthritis
- Ultrasound-guided joint aspiration
- Osteomyelitis