The Society for Pediatric Radiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Emergency and Trauma Imaging Committees' consensus protocol recommendation for rapid MRI for evaluating suspected appendicitis in children.

The imaging evaluation of acute abdominal pain in children with suspected appendicitis has evolved to include rapid abdominopelvic MRI (rMRI) over recent years. Through a collaborative effort between the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Emergency and Trauma Imaging Committees of the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR), we conducted a survey on the utilization of rMRI to assess practice specifics and protocols. Subsequently, we present a proposed consensus rMRI protocol derived from the survey results, literature review, and discussion and consensus between committee members.

Utility of applying white blood cell cutoffs to non-diagnostic MRI and ultrasound studies for suspected pediatric appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound studies in pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis are often non-diagnostic. The primary objective of this investigation was to determine if combining these non-diagnostic imaging results with white blood cell (WBC) cutoffs improves their negative predictive values (NPVs). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted including patients ≤18 years old with suspected appendicitis who had MRI performed with or without a preceding ultrasound study in a pediatric emergency department. Imaging results were sorted into 2 diagnostic and 5 non-diagnostic categories. NPVs were calculated for the non-diagnostic MRI and ultrasound categories with and without combining them with WBC cutoffs of <10.0 and <7.5 × 109/L. RESULTS: Of the 612 patients with MRI studies included, 402 had ultrasound studies performed. MRI with incomplete visualization of a normal appendix without secondary signs of appendicitis had an NPV of 97.9% that changed to 98.1% and 98.2% when combined with WBC cutoffs of <10.0 and <7.5, respectively. Ultrasound studies with incomplete visualization of a normal appendix without secondary signs had an NPV of 85.3% that improved to 94.8% and 96.5% when combined with WBC cutoffs of <10.0 and <7.5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis, MRI studies with incomplete visualization of a normal appendix without secondary signs have a high NPV that does not significantly change with the use of these WBC cutoffs. In contrast, combining WBC cutoffs with ultrasound studies with the same interpretation identifies low-risk groups.

Epithelioid hemangioma of bone: radiologic and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics with histopathological correlation.

BACKGROUND: Epithelioid hemangioma is a rare vascular tumor that can occur in soft tissues or bone. The tumor is part of a spectrum of vascular tumors that also includes epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and angiosarcoma. When involving the bone, the tumor usually involves the metaphysis or diaphysis of the long tubular bones and most commonly occurs in adults. It has been rarely reported in pediatric patients, and in these reported patients, the tumor primarily involves the epiphysis. OBJECTIVE: To review three cases of epithelioid hemangioma of bone occurring in pediatric patients involving the epiphysis and to explore the imaging features of this tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively review three cases of epithelioid hemangioma occurring in skeletally immature patients. RESULTS: These tumors primarily involved the epiphyses or epiphyseal equivalent bones. One lesion was centered in the metaphysis but extended to the epiphysis. These are three cases presenting in an unusual location and at an unusual age. CONCLUSION: Epithelioid hemangioma, though rare, can occur in pediatric patients and appears to involve the epiphyses in these patients. This is in contrast to the usual age and location reported. Epithelioid hemangioma may be considered for an epiphyseal lesion in a skeletally immature patient.