Ultrasound scanning of the gastrointestinal tract in children: subject review.

Water path ultrasound scanning of the abdomen was used to evaluate 103 children with clinically apparent disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Dynamic ileus was distinguished from adynamic ileus, congenital disorders were identified, tumors of the bowel wall were distinguished from vascular lesions, and thickening of the bowel wall in metabolic and toxic disorders was seen. Traumatic and inflammatory conditions were evaluated successfully in 17 patients, obviating the need for barium gastrointestinal studies in these children. Given the benign nature of ultrasound, the authors believe that ultrasound examinations of the bowel should be used with greater frequency, particularly in children.