Role of imaging in the management of abdominal trauma in children

Blunt abdominal trauma is common in children and induces significant morbidity and mortality. Trends in management of solid viscera lesions have changed over the past 15 years and a conservative approach is now preferred whenever possible. Such management has become possible in selected cases due to advances in pediatric intensive care and medical imaging. The authors provide a review-based on international literature data-of the respective roles of medical imaging studies in the initial management of blunt abdominal trauma in children. The place of these investigations is discussed for each organ, with emphasis on the diagnostic value of sonography and computed tomography. Diagnostic pitfalls and limitations in prognostic accuracy are discussed.