Performance characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging without contrast agents or sedation in pediatric appendicitis.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a promising modality for evaluating pediatric appendicitis. However optimal imaging protocols, including roles of contrast agents and sedation, have not been established and diagnostic criteria have not been fully evaluated.

Objective: To investigate performance characteristics of rapid MRI without contrast agents or sedation in the diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis.

Iterative reconstruction technique with reduced volume CT dose index: diagnostic accuracy in pediatric acute appendicitis.

Background: Iterative reconstruction technique has been proposed as a means of reducing patient radiation dose in pediatric CT. Yet, the effect of such reductions on diagnostic accuracy has not been thoroughly evaluated.

Objective: This study compares accuracy of diagnosing pediatric acute appendicitis using contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT scans performed with traditional pediatric weight-based protocols and filtered back projection reconstruction vs.

Bedside optic nerve sheath diameter ultrasound for the evaluation of suspected pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure in the emergency department.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and test characteristics of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured by ocular ultrasound as a screening tool for ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) failure.

Methods: Prospective observational study using a convenience sample of children 6 months to 18 years of age, presenting to an academic pediatric emergency department for evaluation of possible VPS failure between September 2008 and March 2009. ONSD was measured by anterior transbulbar and lateral transbulbar techniques.

Size-appropriate radiation doses in pediatric body CT: a study of regional community adoption in the United States.

Background: During the last decade, there has been a movement in the United States toward utilizing size-appropriate radiation doses for pediatric body CT, with smaller doses given to smaller patients.

Objective: This study assesses community adoption of size-appropriate pediatric CT techniques. Size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) in pediatric body scans are compared between community facilities and a university children's hospital that tailors CT protocols to patient size as advocated by Image Gently.

Medulloblastoma: seeding of VP shunt tract and peritoneum.

We report on a 5-year-old boy with seeding of the peritoneum and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt tract by anaplastic medulloblastoma. The role of ventriculoperitoneal shunting in the spread of primary central nervous system tumors has been controversial. In the case reported here, the unique distribution of tumor implants on ultrasound and multiplanar computed tomography gives further credence to the argument that ventriculoperitoneal shunting is a pathway for extraneural metastases of primary central nervous system tumors.