Neonatal Cranial Ultrasound Findings among Infants Born Extremely Preterm: Associations with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 10 Years of Age.

Objective: To examine the association between neonatal cranial ultrasound (CUS) abnormalities among infants born extremely preterm and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 10 years of age.

Study Design: In a multicenter birth cohort of infants born at <28 weeks of gestation, 889 of 1198 survivors were evaluated for neurologic, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes at 10 years of age. Sonographic markers of white matter damage (WMD) included echolucencies in the brain parenchyma and moderate to severe ventricular enlargement.

Utilization of computed tomography imaging in the pediatric emergency department.

Background: In recent years, there has been a movement toward more judicious use of computed tomography (CT) imaging in an attempt to limit exposure of pediatric patients to ionizing radiation. The Image Gently Alliance and like-minded movements began advocating for safe and high-quality pediatric imaging worldwide in the late 2000s.

Objective: In the context of these efforts, we evaluate CT utilization rates in the pediatric emergency department at a major academic medical center.

Initial clinical evaluation of stationary digital chest tomosynthesis in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: The imaging evaluation of cystic fibrosis currently relies on chest radiography or computed tomography. Recently, digital chest tomosynthesis has been proposed as an alternative. We have developed a stationary digital chest tomosynthesis (s-DCT) system based on a carbon nanotube (CNT) linear x-ray source array.

Pediatric contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the United States: a survey by the Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Task Force of the Society for Pediatric Radiology.

Background: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved an ultrasound (US) contrast agent for intravenous and intravesical administration in children.

Objective: Survey the usage, interest in and barriers for contrast-enhanced US among pediatric radiologists.

Materials And Methods: The Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Task Force of the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) surveyed the membership of the SPR in January 2017 regarding their current use and opinions about contrast-enhanced US in pediatrics.

Radiation dose associated with CT-guided drain placement for pediatric patients.

Background: To date, there are limited radiation dose data on CT-guided procedures in pediatric patients.

Objective: Our goal was to quantify the radiation dose associated with pediatric CT-guided drain placement and follow-up drain evaluations in order to estimate effective dose.

Materials And Methods: We searched the electronic medical record and picture archiving and communication system (PACS) to identify all pediatric (<18 years old) CT-guided drain placements performed between January 2008 and December 2013 at our institution.

Working Face-to-Face for Pediatric CT Dose Reduction: A Community Toolkit.

Although children are especially vulnerable to the health risks of ionizing radiation, approximately 8 million CTs are performed on children in the USA. Widespread dose variation is common, particularly in non-pediatric focused facilities. In this article we present our rationale and hands-on approach in developing and refining a toolkit aimed at helping a community hospital with pediatric CT dose reduction.

A Toolkit for Pediatric CT Dose Reduction in Community Hospitals.

Pediatric CT radiation dose optimization is a challenging process for pediatric-focused facilities and community hospitals alike. Ongoing experience and trial-and-error approaches to dose reduction in the large academic hospital setting may position these centers to help community hospitals that strive for CT quality improvement. We describe our hands-on approach in a pilot project to create a partnership between an academic medical center and a community hospital to develop a toolkit for implementing CT dose reduction.

Observer variability assessing US scans of the preterm brain: the ELGAN study.

Background: Neurosonography can assist clinicians and can provide researchers with documentation of brain lesions. Unfortunately, we know little about the reliability of sonographically derived diagnoses.

Objective: We sought to evaluate observer variability among experienced neurosonologists.

Increasing utilization of computed tomography in the pediatric emergency department, 2000-2006.

The objective of this study is to characterize changes in computed tomography (CT) utilization in the pediatric emergency department (ED) over a 6-year period. CT scans ordered on pediatric (ages 0 to 17 years) ED patients from July 2000 to July 2006 were analyzed in five groups: head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen, and miscellaneous. Pediatric ED patient volume and triage acuity scores were determined.

The fetal dandy walker complex: associated anomalies, perinatal outcome and postnatal imaging.

Objective: This study compares the diagnostic accuracy of prenatal ultrasound with postnatal imaging and evaluates for associated fetal anomalies and their impact on immediate neonatal outcome in fetal Dandy Walker complex (DWC).

Methods: Cases of fetal DWC diagnosed in a single ultrasound unit from January 2000 through July 2004 were reviewed for associated fetal anomalies, fetal karyotype, immediate neonatal outcome and postnatal head imaging.

Results: A total of 55 fetuses with DWC were identified.

Multifocal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach in an 11-year-old girl.

A previously healthy 11-year-old girl presented with an 8-month history of anemia and left upper quadrant abdominal pain. US examination demonstrated a 9-cm cystic mass with a fluid-fluid level in the left upper quadrant with unclear organ of origin. Abdominal MR imaging demonstrated a complex cystic mass, likely arising from the stomach.

Visceral larval migrans masquerading as metastatic disease in a toddler with Wilms tumor.

A 22-month-old girl with a renal mass had multiple small pulmonary nodules on CT at her initial presentation. After biopsy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a Wilms tumor was resected and the pulmonary nodules were shown to have regressed on CT. Follow-up imaging 4 months after initial diagnosis demonstrated multiple new liver lesions and new pulmonary nodules with peripheral eosinophilia.

Thymic carcinoma in a child with HIV infection.

HIV infection predisposes to cancer during childhood. In addition to the AIDS-defining non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Kaposi sarcoma, a range of other lymphoid malignancies and solid tumors have been described. We report the first case of an HIV-positive child with thymic carcinoma in the setting of regressing thymic cysts.

Imaging of the esophagus in children.

The main role of the esophagus is to facilitate passage of food from the mouth to the stomach. A number of conditions can alter esophageal structure or function including congenital anomalies, trauma, infection, and neoplasm. This article reviews the anatomy, imaging evaluation, and common problems seen in the pediatric thoracic esophagus.

Ticks and tick paralysis: imaging findings on cranial MR.

Tick paralysis is an acute, progressive, and potentially fatal muscle paralysis secondary to a toxin secreted by a pregnant tick during a bite. Although tick bites can occur anywhere on the body, ticks are frequently overlooked on the scalp because of overlying hair. Children with acute neurologic symptoms frequently undergo MR scanning that may incidentally reveal the offending tick.

Congenital abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system: perinatal evaluation and long-term outcome.

Many musculoskeletal malformations can be detected by prenatal US. Whether isolated or part of a syndrome, these anomalies can have a significant impact on the entire life of the individual. Nonfatal conditions may be subtle and become more recognizable in the second and third trimester.