Diagnostic value of ultrasound in children with recurrent abdominal pain

In order to investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound in children with recurrent abdominal pain and to estimate the clinical relevance of rare organic causes of abdominal pain in these patients, we prospectively examined 93 children aged between 5.5 and 12 years by means of abdominal ultrasound. In 3 patients (3.2%) an anatomic abnormality was detected, which could not account for the abdominal pain. We conclude that many organic abnormalities, that could be diagnosed by ultrasound, are clinically irrelevant as a cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children and therefore ultrasound does not significantly contribute to the diagnosis. However, ultrasound can still play a role in the work-up of children with recurrent abdominal pain in avoiding unnecessary radiologic X-ray procedures.