| Theme | Abdominal Pain in Children : Current Clinical Management | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Pediatric CT / MRI for Abdominal Pain | |
| Publish Date | 2005/06 | |
| Author | Katsuhiko Aoki | Department of Radiology, Shizuoka Children's Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | While pediatric MRI and CT examinations complement each other in the diagnosis of abdominal pain, both have limitations. MRIs take longer, require more sedation, more preparation, and can be more labor intensive than CTs. They can also induce unstable vital signs in some patients. CTs provide poorer tissue contrast than MRI and require contrast enhancement. Recent improvements in CT / MRI technology have resolved most of these problems while retaining the best features of both techniques. CT / MRI scans now provide a wide dynamic range of images of the GI tract, the biliary system and associated vessels eliminating the need for contrast medium. Multi-detector row CTs and advanced fast scanning technology have shortened exposure times and provide coherent images from the most desirable planes : coronal, sagittal, adequate oblique cut surface and three-directional images. To elucidate the roles of sedation and contrast media in pediatric CT / MRI for abdominal pain, several characteristic or typical childhood diseases are presented. |
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