Learning objectives
Multi-modality approach and imaging spectrum of abscesses in infants in different organs
Background
Clinical diagnosis of abscesses in infants is very challenging as the symptoms that form the basis of diagnosis such as site of pain,
odynophagia,
gait disturbance etc are difficult to be assessed.
Developing infants have a unique set of susceptibilities and also high risk of accelerated deterioration,
which are not encountered in older children and adults.
Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are hence paramount in infants in which radiology plays a crucial role.
Knowledge of ideal modality is foremost requirement,
which will lead to timely...
Findings and procedure details
Eight infants who were admitted in our pediatric intensive care unit and who were diagnosed as having abscesses in view of clinical findings and imaging were included in the study.
The patients’ demographic properties,
baseline clinical findings,
time of clinical improvement,
and ultrasound,
computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the time of diagnosis and in the follow-up period were obtained.
Radiologist with over 20 years of experience evaluated all the imaging.
Three infants had liver abscesses; two among these had bacterial infection and...
Conclusion
USG is the imaging of first choice as it is quick,
safe,
cheap,
and accurate in picking up a liver lesion.
Appearances of an abscess may be a round or an oval lesion which is usually hypoechoic but may have heterogenous echotexture.
A solid or heterogenous lesion often evolves into a hypoechoic lesion on subsequent examination [5].
Majority of the abscess have a well-defined wall which may be thin or irregular.
However USG may miss very small abscesses or abscesses lying in areas of liver...
References
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Pediatric lung abscess: Clinical management and outcome.
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4.
Hoang J K et al.
Multiplanar CT and MRI of Collections in the Retropharyngeal Space: Is It an Abscess? AJR 2011; 196:W426–W432
5.
Ahmed L,
el Rooby...