ArticleBMC pediatrics2023
Utilizing ultrasound in suspected necrotizing enterocolitis with equivocal radiographic findings.
Article in BMC pediatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- The latest research progress of ultrasound technology in the diagnosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: A review.Medicine · 2026Review
- Hypoxic-ischemic enterocolitis in extremely low birth weight infants: diagnostic insights from a pilot study.European journal of pediatrics · 2026Article
- [Ultrasound diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates].Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics · 2026Article
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Comprehensive Review on Toll-like Receptor 4-Mediated Pathophysiology, Clinical, and Therapeutic Insights.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Ultrasound for the Early Detection and Diagnosis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Scoping Review of Emerging Evidence.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Impact of postoperative necrotizing enterocolitis after neonatal cardiac surgery on neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year of age.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTo examine the use of abdominal ultrasound (AUS) as a diagnostic adjunct in the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in cases where abdominal radiography (AXR) is equivocal in order to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in neonates.
methodsRetrospective study (2017-2019) of infants undergoing NEC evaluation with equivocal AXR findings (n = 54). Paired AXR and AUS were reviewed with respect to presence or absence of pneumatosis. Concordance of AUS findings with decision to treat for NEC was evaluated.
resultsAmong 54 infants where AXR was equivocal, AUS demonstrated presence of pneumatosis in 22 patients (41%), absence of pneumatosis in 31 patients (57%), and was equivocal in 1 patient. All patients with pneumatosis on AUS were treated for NEC. Of 31 patients without pneumatosis on AUS, 25 patients (78%) were not treated for NEC. Patients without pneumatosis on AUS received a significantly shorter mean duration of antibiotics compared to those with pneumatosis (3.3 days (+/- 4.8 days) vs 12.4 days (+/- 4.7 days)); p < 0.001). Of those patients not treated, none required treatment within 1 week following negative AUS.
conclusionAUS is a valuable tool for evaluating the presence or absence of pneumatosis in the setting of equivocal AXR. Absence of pneumatosis on AUS informs clinical decision making and reduces unnecessary treatment and antibiotic usage.
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