M-mode ultrasound for assessment of the "tethered fat sign" in children: an easily performed way to certify a dynamic process as a still picture.

Background: Omental infarction is a rare pediatric disease. Ultrasound is a useful modality for a non-invasive pre-operative differential diagnosis between inflammatory conditions (as appendicitis) and omental infarction, especially by detecting immobility of the omentum adhered to the abdominal wall ("tetherd fat sign"). However, this is a dynamic sign that cannot be documented in a static image with B-mode technique. The goal of this work is to incorporate the versatile function of motion mode (M-mode) into omental infarction diagnosis to describe how the M-mode is useful in the evaluation of fat motion in children suspected of having omental infarction. In 2019 we suggested a new Ultrasound sign named "tethered fat sign" for an accurate non-invasive diagnosis of omental infarction in children. This finding was observed in 6 of the 234 seen children of our previous study with 4 laparoscopic confirmed diagnosis. Methods: From January 2019 to July 2021, we evaluated 195 children (91 boys and 104 girls, from 3 to 15 years) admitted to our Santobono-Pausilipon Children Hospital with acute right-sided abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasound was performed to all the patients and the investigation of "tethered fat sign" was always included. Results: In 7 patients ultrasound showed the presence of a hyperechoic oval mass localized in the right upper abdominal quadrant and in 2 of these M-mode documented a normal subhepatic fat moving during respiratory movements in relation with the abdominal wall. The remaining 5 patients had an omental infarction showed as a subhepatic motionless mass tethered to the abdominal wall on M-mode. In these patients, a sonographic follow-up was performed every 15 d for 2 months showing a progressive reduction in size of the right-sided hyperechoic mass. Conclusions: In the evaluation of all children who showed the presence of the "tethered fat sign" the use of M-mode provide a certified image in diagnostic ultrasound.

Multimodal imaging approach in hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome. A rare case of pediatric unilateral hypoplasia of the main renal artery combined itself with stenosis and review of literature.

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) accounts for approximately 5%-10% of secondary renovascular hypertension in the pediatric population. It can occur as an isolated entity, or as a hypoplasia combined itself with stenosis. Hypoplasia, or long-segment developmental narrowing, is a rare cause of renovascular hypertension. Hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome (HHS) is a malignant complication of unilateral RAS and/or renal artery hypoplasia. Hyponatremia, hypokalemic hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, nephrotic range proteinuria, polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss are the most common findings. In particular, hypertension remains refractory despite aggressive antihypertensive therapy. Laboratory findings of elevated plasma levels of renin in most case suggest that the stimulation of renin release from the ischemic kidney plays an important pathophysiologic role. HHS is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in children. We report a case of a unilateral right renal artery hypoplasia, complicated by a segmental narrowing, in a 17-month-old male, clinically symptomatic for hypertension. We emphasize the role of ultrasound, computed tomography, and digital subtraction angiography that should be planned as reliable and non-invasive multimodal imaging approach.

Identification of secondary splenic lymphoma with contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the pediatric population. A case report.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound scan (CEUS) is the application of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) to traditional ultrasound. Our aim is to report the use of CEUS for a prompt assessment of a suspected secondary splenic lymphoma in a child, which, in our experience, has allowed an accurate description of the parenchymal perfusion and vascularization pattern, leading to a confident diagnosis. We suggest that CEUS will replace Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or Computed tomography (CT) as standard imaging option for differential diagnosis of spleen lesions in pediatric population. As a result this will lead to decreasing the overall use of ionizing radiation and reducing the time interval to a certain diagnosis.

Fatigue perception in a cohort of children with chronic immune thrombocytopenia and their caregivers using the PedsQL MFS: Real-life multicenter experience of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP).

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is an important clinical and psychological aspect for a significant number of children affected by immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). To date, few studies have explored fatigue and its relationship with chronic ITP in pediatric age. The aim of the present multicentric pilot study is to determine fatigue perception in a large group of children with chronic ITP and their caregivers using the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL MFS), and to compare the results with those of healthy control subjects. PROCEDURE: Children with chronic ITP aged 5-18 years and/or caregivers of children aged 2-18 years were enrolled. Child/adolescent self-report was used for patients aged 5-18 years, and parent proxy-report for patients aged 2-18 years. The questionnaire was offered as online survey. PedsQL MFS is composed of 18 items covering three dimensions: General Fatigue Scale, Sleep/Rest Fatigue Scale, and Cognitive Fatigue Scale. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-one patients affected by chronic ITP and 248 caregivers answered the PedsQL MFS. We have highlighted that lower values of PedsQL MFS scores are obtained in the 13-18 age group. Moreover, sleep/rest fatigue domain appears to be more compromised in all age groups. For all PedsQL MFS scores, pediatric patients with chronic ITP and their caregivers reported statistically significant worse fatigue than healthy children. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that fatigue is relevant among children and adolescents affected by chronic ITP. The PedsQL MFS represents an adequate instrument for measuring fatigue in patients with chronic ITP. Therefore, symptoms of fatigue should be routinely assessed in clinical practice.

Fluoroscopy-guided hydrostatic reduction of intussusception in infancy: role of pharmacological premedication.

PURPOSE: Intussusception is one of the most common causes of paediatric emergency. Fluoroscopy-guided hydrostatic reduction is a common nonoperative management strategy for the treatment of intussusception. The role of pharmacological premedication in increasing the success rate of hydrostatic reduction is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to verify the presence of a possible correlation between pharmacological premedication and the percentage of hydrostatic reduction of intussusception in paediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study considered children with a diagnosis of idiopathic intussusception treated at our hospital between January 2007 and June 2013. One group of patients underwent hydrostatic reduction by barium enema without any preliminary therapy. A second group of patients received pharmacological premedication with both a sedative and an anti-oedematous agent before the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 398 patients were treated with barium enema for therapeutic purposes. In the group of patients who received no premedication (n = 254), 165 (65 %) children achieved hydrostatic reduction of the intussusception. Among the patients who received pharmacological premedication prior to barium enema (n = 144), 122 (85 %) children achieved resolution of the intussusception. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the use of pharmacological premedication is effective for the reduction of the intussusception, as its limit patient stress, fluoroscopic time and radiation dose.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of midgut volvulus with malrotation in children.

OBJECTIVES: Midgut volvulus with malrotation is typical in newborns. We present our experience to emphasize the importance of suspecting midgut volvulus as a cause of abdominal pain also beyond infancy, particularly in relation to malrotation, and the relevance of ultrasonographic (US) signs in its diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 34 patients (10 boys, 24 girls; ages between 1 day and 12 years) diagnosed as having malrotation or malrotation with volvulus, surgically confirmed, between 2006 and 2013 were retrospectively selected among all of the patients referred to our institution for acute abdomen and bilious vomiting. All of them underwent US and color Doppler examination before surgery. The US examinations were performed with 6 to 10 MHz microconvex and 7.5 to 10 Mhz linear transducer. The transducer was placed under xiphoid, and, with axial projection, the presence of anatomic position reversed between superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA), as a sign of malrotation, and the presence of "whirlpool sign" (WS) (wrapping of the SMV and the mesentery around the SMA), as a sign of midgut volvulus, were evaluated. RESULTS: In 27 of these 34 patients, midgut volvulus was present; 7 patients had intestinal malrotation. In 2 of 7 (28%) patients with malrotation, SMA and SMV were inverted. Among the patients with volvulus, 2 showed reversed vessel position and 22 patients presented the WS in association with SMA/SMV inversion (22/27, 81%). CONCLUSIONS: Midgut volvulus with malrotation can appear beyond the neonatal age group as demonstrated in our case. The WS sign is sufficiently sensitive for its diagnosis and should be routinely researched at all ages of pediatric population. Anatomic inversion between SMV and SMA seems to be not enough sensitive in isolated malrotation diagnosis.