Pediatric Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Abstract

This article reviews the most frequent applications of ultrasonography in the evaluation of musculoskeletal pathology in the pediatric age group, with exception of developmental hip dysplasia and vascular anomalies, which are discussed elsewhere in this issue. The low cost, lack of radiation, and widespread availability of this modality, in combination with the optimal visualization caused by lack of thick adipose tissue planes and larger proportion of unossified skeleton makes ultrasonography the ideal primary imaging modality for many musculoskeletal disorders in children. The topics included in this article are infectious processes (cellulitis, abscess, soft tissue foreign body, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis), noninfectious articular pathology (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, hemophilia) and soft tissue masses (fibrous tumors, adipocytic tumors, peripheral nerve sheath tumors, pilomatricoma, pseudotumors), which are reviewed by outlining a brief clinical summary, description of sonographic findings, and relevant illustrations.