Abdominal ultrasound images can be used to help diagnose appendicitis in children.

Except for traumatic injury, appendicitis is the most common reason for emergency abdominal surgery.

Ultrasound imaging can also:

• help a physician determine the source of abdominal pain, such as gallstones, kidney stones, abscesses or an inflamed appendix
• guide procedures such as biopsies, in which needles, whose placement can be guided by ultrasound, are used to sample cells from organs for laboratory testing
• help detect the presence and cause of an apparent enlarged abdominal organ
• identify the location of abnormal fluid in the abdomen
• help determine causes of vomiting in young infants

Because ultrasound provides real-time images, images that are renewed continuously, it also can be used to guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which needles are used to extract sample cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing. Ultrasound may also be used to guide the insertion of a catheter or other drainage device and helps assure safe and accurate placement and fluid drainage for diagnosis and/or relief of patient discomfort.

Doppler ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:

• blockages to blood flow (such as clots)
• narrowing of vessels
• tumors and congenital vascular malformations
• reduced or absent blood flow to various organs
• greater than normal blood flow to different areas, which is sometimes seen in infections

Doppler ultrasound images can also help the physician see and evaluate torsion or twisting of a testicle limiting proper blood flow into it.