Open AccessUltrasound findings in paediatric cholestasis: how to image the patient and what to look for
Author(s) -
Marco Di Serafino,
Matilde Gioioso,
Rosa Severino,
Francesco Esposito,
Norberto Vezzali,
Federica Ferro,
Piernicola Pelliccia,
Maria Grazia Caprio,
Raffaele Iorio,
Gianfranco Vallone
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1971-3495
pISSN - 1876-7931
DOI - 10.1007/s40477-019-00362-9
Subject(s) - medicine , gallbladder , cholestasis , jaundice , biliary tract , ultrasonography , obstructive jaundice , radiology , ultrasound , bilirubin , liver biopsy , neonatal cholestasis , biopsy , pathology , biliary atresia , liver transplantation , transplantation
Paediatric biliary tract and gallbladder diseases include a variety of entities with a wide range of clinical presentations. Cholestasis represents an impaired secretion of bilirubin by hepatocytes, manifesting with high blood levels of conjugated bilirubin and jaundice. Various causes may be involved, which can be recognised analysing blood tests and hepatobiliary imaging, while sometimes liver biopsy or surgery may be necessary. High-resolution real-time ultrasonography is an important tool for differentiation of obstructive and non-obstructive causes of jaundice in infants and children. In this paper, we briefly review the normal anatomy and the ultrasound aspects of main pathologies affecting gallbladder and biliary tree in neonatal and paediatric age.