Ultrasonographic and multimodal imaging of pediatric genital female diseases

J Ultrasound. 2019 Sep;22(3):273-289. doi: 10.1007/s40477-019-00358-5. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Abstract

Ultrasonography is the first-line imaging modality in the evaluation of the female pelvis in childhood and adolescence, because it is easy to perform, non-invasive and it does not require sedation. The transabdominal approach is preferred in children and adolescents, after filling the bladder to move away the bowel loops from the pelvis. The probe frequency must be adapted to age, thickness of tissues and depth of the structures under examination. High-frequency (4-12 MHz) linear or convex probes are used in newborns; high-frequency linear probes (4-12 MHz) in toddler, convex 5-7.5 MHz probes in girls and convex 3.5-5 MHz probes in teenagers. In this article, the main pathological conditions of the genital female tract in pediatric age are examined, such as congenital anomalies, disorders of sex development, ovarian cysts, ovarian tumors, adnexal torsion, primary amenorrhea, precocious puberty and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Keywords: Congenital anomalies; Disorders of sex development; Genital female tract; Pediatric age; Pelvic expansive masses; Ultrasound examination.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anatomic Variation
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disorders of Sex Development / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Genital Diseases, Female / diagnostic imaging*
  • Genitalia, Female / abnormalities
  • Genitalia, Female / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Multimodal Imaging*
  • Ultrasonography