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Diagnostic Performance of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Traumatic Solid Organ Injuries in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher Pubmed



Jannatdoust P1 ; Valizadeh P1 ; Hassankhani A2, 3 ; Amoukhteh M2, 3 ; Ghadimi DJ4 ; Heidariforoozan M5, 6 ; Sabeghi P2 ; Adli P7 ; Johnston JH8 ; Vasavada PS9 ; Gholamrezanezhad A2
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), 1441 Eastlake Ave Ste 2315, Los Angeles, 90089, CA, United States
  3. 3. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
  4. 4. School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. College of Letters and Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
  8. 8. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
  9. 9. Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States

Source: Pediatric Radiology Published:2025


Abstract

Background: Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is a significant contributor to pediatric mortality, often causing liver and spleen injuries. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), the gold standard for diagnosing solid organ injury, poses radiation risks to children. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) may be a promising alternative imaging modality. Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of CEUS for detecting solid organ injuries following BAT in the pediatric population. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted through a thorough literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases up to October 1, 2023. Diagnostic accuracy metrics were aggregated using a bivariate model, and subgroup meta-analysis compared CEUS accuracy across various organs. Results: Meta-analysis from four studies, including 364 pediatric patients, revealed a pooled sensitivity of 88.5% (95%CI 82.5–92.6%) and specificity of 98.5% (95%CI 94.9–99.6%), with an area under the curve of 96% (95%CI 88 – 99%). Splenic injuries showed higher sensitivity than liver injuries (P-value < 0.01), while kidney assessments demonstrated higher specificity (P-value < 0.05). Conclusion: This study highlights the diagnostic potential of CEUS for pediatric solid organ injuries caused by BAT. Further large-scale studies are needed due to the limited number and sample size of the included studies. © The Author(s) 2024.
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