Epilepsy is one of the most frequent serious brain disorders. Approximately 30,000 of the 150,000 children and adolescents who experience unprovoked seizures are diagnosed with epilepsy each year. Magnetic resonance imaging is the method of choice in diagnosing and monitoring patients with this condition. However, one very effective tool using MR images is volBrain software, which automatically generates information about the volume of brain structures. A total of 57 consecutive patients (study group) suffering from epilepsy and 34 healthy patients (control group) who underwent MR examination qualified for the study. Images were then evaluated by volBrain. Results showed atrophy of the brain and particular structures—GM, cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, putamen, thalamus, hippocampus and nucleus accumbens volume. Moreover, the statistically significant difference in the volume between the study and the control group was found for brain, lateral ventricle and putamen. A volumetric analysis of the CNS in children with epilepsy confirms a decrease in the volume of brain tissue. A volumetric assessment of brain structures based on MR data has the potential to be a useful diagnostic tool in children with epilepsy and can be implemented in clinical work; however, further studies are necessary to enhance the effectiveness of this software.

A six-year-old boy visits a general practitioner due to diarrhea and abdominal pain with a moderate fever of up to 39 °C for 2 days. Treatment is initiated; however, the recurrence of abdominal pain is observed. Physical examination of the child at the emergency department reveals abdominal guarding and visible, palpable, painful intestinal loops in the left iliac and hypogastric regions—this is referred to as an ‘acute abdomen’. An X-ray shows single levels of air and fluid indicative of bowel obstruction. Ultrasound reveals distended, fluid-filled intestinal loops with diminished motility. The intestinal wall is swollen. Laboratory tests indicate increased inflammatory indices. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography examination of the abdominal cavity and lesser pelvis shows intestinal dilation. The loops were filled with liquid content and numerous collections of gas. The patient is qualified for a laparotomy. An intraoperative diagnosis of perforated gangrenous appendicitis with autoamputation was made. In addition, numerous interloop and pelvic abscesses, excessive adhesions, signs of small intestine micro-perforation, and diffuse peritonitis are found. The patient’s condition and laboratory parameters significantly improve during the following days of hospitalization. Despite the implementation of multidirectional, specialized diagnostics in the case of acute abdomen, in everyday practice we still encounter situations where the final diagnosis is made intraoperatively only.