Abdominal trauma in children can be deadly, but intra-abdominal injuries can be difficult to detect and often lack external signs of injury on physical exam. The current gold standard imaging study is Computed Tomography (CT) with IV contrast, which is associated with radiation exposure. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a radiation-free alternative to detect abdominal injuries and has been studied primarily in adults and some older children, but evidence to support its use in young children is needed.
This is a prospective study of children less than 8 years of age who are clinically stable and undergoing an abdominal CT with IV contrast as part of their clinical care due to concerns for abdominal trauma. Investigators will compare CEUS results with those obtained by CT. Investigators will additionally include retrospective data of children who underwent both abdominal CT and CEUS as part of clinical care.
