Harmonic versus conventional ultrasound imaging of the urinary tract in children

• Published in: Pediatric radiology 2005-07, Vol.35 (7), p.655-660
• Main Authors: Bartram, Ulrike, Darge, Kassa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Infant; Kidney - diagnostic imaging; Kidney Calices - diagnostic imaging; Kidney Cortex - diagnostic imaging; Kidney Medulla - diagnostic imaging; Kidney Pelvis - diagnostic imaging; Liver - diagnostic imaging; Male; Observer Variation; Spleen - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonography - methods; Urinary Bladder - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0301-0449; 1432-1998
• DOI: 10.1007/s00247-005-1415-9

Harmonic imaging (HI) is a relatively new US method. Its usefulness in children has yet to be determined. To evaluate the value of HI in urinary tract imaging of infants and children. The bladder and kidneys of 29 unselected patients, aged 2 months to 12.8 years (mean, 6.8 years), were examined from ventral and dorsal approaches using conventional (= fundamental) imaging (FI) (6.5 and 3.4 MHz) and HI (3.3 MHz). In addition to global image quality, visualization of bladder wall, retrovesical space, renal contrast to liver/spleen, the pelvicalyceal systems, and the difference between cortex and medulla were assessed. Parameters were rated by two independent examiners and statistical analysis was performed. There were significant differences between the three imaging settings for all parameters studied (P