Minimal pelvic fluid in asymptomatic children: the value of the sonographic finding.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of minimal pelvic fluid in asymptomatic children who underwent abdominal sonography.


METHODS
Between August 1999 and January 2001, we performed abdominal sonography in 396 asymptomatic children and 266 symptomatic children (acute and chronic abdominal pain). The 2 groups were evaluated for the presence of minimal fluid in the pelvis. All the children were divided into 4 subgroups according to age and sex.


RESULTS
Minimal pelvic fluid was noted in 28 (7%) of the asymptomatic children, and it was more common in girls (10.2%), especially in girls between the ages of 5 and 15 years. On the contrary, no difference between the age groups was seen in boys. Minimal pelvic fluid was found in 76 (28.6%) of the symptomatic children, with no difference seen between the sexes or age groups. The presence of pelvic fluid was significantly greater in the symptomatic group than in asymptomatic group (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the presence of minimal pelvic fluid in children of all ages and both sexes is a physiologic finding and should be evaluated in the appropriate clinical context.
Rathaus
Valeria
V
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Grunebaum
Michael
M
Konen
Osnat
O
Odsatchy
Alexandra
A
Zissin
Rivka
R
Shapiro
Myra
M
Werner
Miriam
M
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography