Ultrasonography
Purpose
To measure organ size and evaluate structure
To detect foreign bodies and differentiate between a cyst and solid tumor
To monitor tissue response to radiation or chemotherapy
Patient preparation
Make sure that the consent form is signed by the child’s parents or legal guardians.
Note and report all allergies.
Explain to the child and his parents that the procedure is painless and safe and that no radiation exposure is involved.
Stress the importance of remaining still during scanning to prevent a distorted image.
Procedure
Assist the child into a supine position; use pillows to support the area to be examined.
Coat the target area with a water-soluble jelly. The transducer is used to scan the area, projecting the images on the oscilloscope screen. The image on the screen is photographed for subsequent examination.
It may be necessary to assist the child into right or left lateral positions for subsequent views.
Normal results
Abdominal aorta
Abdominal aorta descending through the retroperitoneal space, anterior to the vertebral column and slightly left of the midline
Four of the abdominal aorta’s major branches being well visualized including the celiac trunk, renal arteries, superior mesenteric artery, and common iliac arteries
Gallbladder and biliary system
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