title: US in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in children.
abstract: Several techniques have been used to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children, but no single test is sufficiently accurate to completely investigate the problem. Gastroesophageal US has been described as a widely available, noninvasive and sensitive method. It provides morphological and functional information, but its role in the diagnosis of GER in children is still debated. In this paper we review diagnostic approaches to GER in children. We focus on current use of US in the management of children with suspected GER. Reports suggest that US allows exclusion of several non-GER causes of symptoms and that it provides morphological and functional data with high sensitivity and positive predictive value for the diagnosis of GER. Sonographic assessment of findings such as abdominal esophageal length, esophageal diameter, esophageal wall thickness and gastroesophageal angle provide important diagnostic indicators of reflux and related to the degree of GER. There is a need for standardization of the procedure and for defining diagnostic criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66013, Chieti, Italy. alessavino@katamail.com
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cecamore
authors.forename: Maria Ferrina
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Matronola
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohn
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: Piernicola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelliccia
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008365:Manometry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography