Journal of Ultrasound - Virtual Issue Pediatric Ultrasound

Ultrasound (US) imaging has become a pillar in the diagnosis and management of many pediatric disorders. It represents the first diagnostic imaging modality for children and newborns because of its low biological impact, its non-invasiveness due to the absence of ionizing radiation and its lack of need of preparations or sedation. The potential of US in the pediatric field is closely related to the equipment’s technological evolution, such as high resolution ultrasound probes that allow for fine anatomical detail. Furthermore, children are ideal patients for the use of US because their low levels of body fat allow for optimal exploration and high image quality. Although working with children can be challenging because they are often uncooperative, it is surely rewarding because of the complexity of the pathologies in the pediatric field and the congenital variants that can occur. This issue of the Journal of Ultrasound includes: an update on several disorders pertaining to the pediatric chest, spinal cord and urinary tract, a review of the normal and abnormal ultrasound findings of the neck, liver, spleen and pancreas in pediatric age, a focus on musculoskeletal pathology by pictorial essay, a comprehensive discussion of cystic diseases and vascular anomalies and also an overview of the potential application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in trauma. In conclusion, hoping these articles will be valuable to you in your practice, we strongly believe that US is today and will be even more in the future the right diagnostic choice in the pediatric field.

Gianfranco Vallone

Radiology Department Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy

Paediatric neck ultrasonography: a pictorial essay

Paediatric liver ultrasound: a pictorial essay

Prenatal and postnatal urinary tract dilation: advantages of a standardized ultrasound definition and classification

Spinal cord ultrasonography of the newborn

Ultrasonographic and multimodal imaging of pediatric genital female diseases

Paediatric liver ultrasound: a pictorial essay

Ultrasound findings in paediatric cholestasis: how to image the patient and what to look for

Pediatric cystic diseases of the kidney

Classification and ultrasound findings of vascular anomalies in pediatric age: the essential

Pediatric ultrasonography of the pancreas: normal and abnormal findings