ABR Pediatric Radiology key terms

Bleeding from fragile vessels near the lateral ventricles in premature neonates. It can extend into ventricles and brain tissue, causing hydrocephalus or neurologic injury. Grading depends on the extent of hemorrhage.

White-matter injury in premature infants from ischemia or infection. Affected areas near the ventricles become necrotic and later cystic, leading to spastic cerebral palsy. MRI detects early and late changes.

Congenital hindbrain anomaly with downward displacement of cerebellar tonsils and vermis through the foramen magnum, usually with myelomeningocele. It can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid flow and cause hydrocephalus.

Cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle with agenesis or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis and an enlarged posterior fossa. It often presents with hydrocephalus and developmental delay.

Arteriovenous shunt in the neonatal brain that drains into the vein of Galen. High-flow heart failure, hydrocephalus, and brain injury can result; treatment is endovascular embolization.

Brain injury from reduced oxygen and blood flow around birth. Patterns depend on gestational age and severity; MRI helps grade injury and predict neurodevelopmental outcome.

Defect in the diaphragm allowing abdominal organs into the chest, causing pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension. Left-sided defects are most common; prognosis depends on lung size and associated anomalies.

Developmental lung lesion with abnormal cystic airway tissue, often diagnosed prenatally. Large lesions can cause mediastinal shift and hydrops; small ones may regress or require resection.

Neonatal lung disease from surfactant deficiency, especially in premature infants. Chest radiographs show low lung volumes, reticulogranular pattern, and air bronchograms; treatment includes surfactant.

Congenital anomaly in which aortic arch vessels encircle and compress the trachea and esophagus. Symptoms include stridor and dysphagia; CT or MRI defines anatomy before surgery.

Congenital heart defect with ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy. It causes cyanosis; repair relieves right ventricular outflow obstruction.

Thickening of the pyloric muscle causing nonbilious projectile vomiting in young infants. Ultrasound shows an elongated pyloric canal and thickened muscle; surgery is curative.

Bowel segment telescopes into adjacent bowel, causing obstruction and ischemia. Children present with colicky pain and bloody stool; ultrasound shows a target sign, and enema reduction is first-line.

Twisting of small bowel around the superior mesenteric artery due to malrotation, threatening bowel ischemia. Upper GI series shows a corkscrew duodenum; urgent surgery is required.

Progressive obstruction of extrahepatic bile ducts in infancy, causing jaundice and cirrhosis. Early Kasai portoenterostomy improves bile drainage; delayed diagnosis may require transplant.

Most common pediatric renal cancer, usually presenting as an abdominal mass. Imaging shows a renal mass displacing kidney tissue; staging guides surgery and chemotherapy.

Embryonal tumor from the sympathetic nervous system, often in the adrenal gland. It may calcify, cross the midline, and secrete catecholamines; MIBG imaging helps staging.

Physeal injury in children classified by involvement of growth plate, metaphysis, or epiphysis. Types I to V guide prognosis; accurate reduction reduces growth arrest risk.

Abnormal hip joint development with a shallow acetabulum and possible dislocation. Ultrasound screens infants; treatment uses a harness or casting, and late diagnosis causes osteoarthritis.

Idiopathic avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children. It causes hip pain and limp; imaging stages disease and guides containment treatment to preserve joint shape.

Displacement of the femoral head through the growth plate in older children, often with obesity. Radiographs show a widened physis; urgent fixation prevents further slip and avascular necrosis.

Inflicted injury pattern in children, often with injuries inconsistent with the history. Metaphyseal corner fractures and rib fractures raise concern; imaging survey and safety evaluation are essential.

Injection of a sclerosing agent into a vascular or lymphatic malformation under imaging guidance. It shrinks lesions and reduces symptoms; complications include inflammation, skin injury, and systemic effects.

Catheter-directed delivery of particles or coils to occlude abnormal vessels. It treats hemorrhage, tumors, or vascular malformations; radiation and contrast exposure require pediatric-specific planning.

Image-guided creation of a feeding tract into the stomach for children unable to eat adequately. Complications include leakage, infection, and tube displacement; proper technique reduces peritoneal spillage.

Needle sampling of a lesion using ultrasound, fluoroscopy, or CT guidance. It obtains tissue for diagnosis while minimizing injury; sedation and bleeding risk require pediatric planning.

Nuclear medicine study using technetium-99m pertechnetate to detect ectopic gastric mucosa in a Meckel diverticulum. Positive focal uptake supports diagnosis; false positives require clinical correlation.

Technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid binds renal cortex, showing functioning tissue and scars. It evaluates pyelonephritis, reflux injury, and differential renal function with minimal radiation.

Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy images sympathetic tissue. It stages neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma and can assess response; uptake reflects norepinephrine transporter activity.

HIDA scan tracks bile excretion to evaluate cholestasis, biliary atresia, and leaks. Nonvisualization in a neonate suggests obstruction but requires correlation with clinical and laboratory findings.

Radiation safety principle meaning dose is kept as low as reasonably achievable, considering social and economic factors. It guides protocol optimization in pediatric imaging.

Campaign promoting radiation dose reduction in pediatric imaging through protocol adjustment, shielding when appropriate, and avoiding unnecessary studies. It encourages collaboration among technologists, physicists, and physicians.

CT dose metric that adjusts volume CT dose index for patient size. It better estimates pediatric organ dose because children vary widely in body dimensions.

Fluoroscopy technique that acquires images intermittently rather than continuously, reducing radiation exposure. Lower pulse rates are useful in pediatrics while maintaining adequate image quality.