Imaging in urinary tract infections: current strategies and new trends.
The aim of imaging in a child with urinary tract infection (UTI) is to detect abnormalities that require appropriate treatment or findings that can be acted on to prevent development of complications (hypertension, chronic renal failure or pregnancy-related complications). Imaging protocols in pediatric urinary tract infections are evolving. From strategies based on extensive investigations in all children younger than 7 years of age, we are slowly moving to imaging strategies focused on children at risk of developing renal damage and possibly long-term complications. The article provides an overview on urinary tract infections, their complications and the use of imaging in their management. The different imaging strategies in children with UTIs (including the recommendation of excluding from imaging certain groups of patients) still needs full evaluation. It is interesting to note, however, a slow move from wide use of cystography in all children with UTI, which has been standard practice for many years but was probably not based on solid scientific evidence, toward a more focused use of cystograms in specific groups of children.
Biassoni
Lorenzo
L
Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom. BiassiL@gosh.nhs.uk
Chippington
Samantha
S
D002648:Child; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011866:Radioisotope Renography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid