title: Acute abdomen. Laboratory evaluation and imaging.
abstract: The child with an acute abdomen requires a thorough history and physical examination followed by a focused laboratory and imaging evaluation. The laboratory evaluation is more beneficial in determining management than in establishing diagnosis. Ultrasonography has become increasingly useful in the evaluation of the child with acute abdominal pain.
authors.affiliation: DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899, USA.
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bulas
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000208:Acute Disease; D000465:Algorithms; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D007443:Intussusception / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011859:Radiography