US in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in children

Several techniques have been used to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children, but no single test is sufficiently accurate to completely investigate the problem. Gastroesophageal US has been described as a widely available, noninvasive and sensitive method. It provides morphological and fu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric radiology 2012-05, Vol.42 (5), p.515-524
Main Authors: Savino, Alessandra, Cecamore, Cristina, Matronola, Maria Ferrina, Verrotti, Alberto, Mohn, Angelika, Chiarelli, Francesco, Pelliccia, Piernicola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child
Child, Preschool
Diagnosis, Differential
Esophageal pH Monitoring
Esophagoscopy
Gastroesophageal Reflux - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Imaging
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Manometry
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Neuroradiology
Nuclear Medicine
Oncology
Pediatrics
Radiology
Review
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ultrasonography
Ultrasound
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Summary:Several techniques have been used to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children, but no single test is sufficiently accurate to completely investigate the problem. Gastroesophageal US has been described as a widely available, noninvasive and sensitive method. It provides morphological and functional information, but its role in the diagnosis of GER in children is still debated. In this paper we review diagnostic approaches to GER in children. We focus on current use of US in the management of children with suspected GER. Reports suggest that US allows exclusion of several non-GER causes of symptoms and that it provides morphological and functional data with high sensitivity and positive predictive value for the diagnosis of GER. Sonographic assessment of findings such as abdominal esophageal length, esophageal diameter, esophageal wall thickness and gastroesophageal angle provide important diagnostic indicators of reflux and related to the degree of GER. There is a need for standardization of the procedure and for defining diagnostic criteria.
ISSN:0301-0449
1432-1998
DOI:10.1007/s00247-012-2344-z