OBJECTIVE. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of transient elastography for evaluating liver fibrosis in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A computerized search of Medline and Embase up to December 31, 2017, was performed to identify studies. Studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of transient elastography for the severity of liver fibrosis in children and adolescents were selected. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated using hierarchic logistic regression modeling. Multiple subgroup analysis was performed. RESULTS. In this meta-analysis that included 11 original articles involving 723 patients, transient elastography showed a summary sensitivity of 95% (95% CI, 74–99%) and a specificity of 90% (95% CI, 81–95%) for the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis (stage ≥ F2) in children. The hierarchic summary ROC AUC was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94–0.98). Multiple subgroup analysis for the diagnosis of significant hepatic fibrosis showed clinically acceptable ranges of se...

Park HS, et al. Korean J Radiol. 2020 Jul;21:e178. https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2020.0051

Children are at greater risk of radiation exposure than adults because the rapidly dividing cells of children tend to be more radiosensitive and they have a longer expected life time in which to develop potential radiation injury. Some studies have surveyed computed tomography (CT) radiation doses and several studies have established diagnostic reference levels according to patient age or body size; however, no survey of CT radiation doses with a large number of patients has yet been carried out in South Korea. The aim of the present study was to investigate the radiation dose in pediatric CT examinations performed throughout South Korea. From 512 CT (222 brain CT, 105 chest CT, and 185 abdominopelvic CT) scans that were referred to our tertiary hospital, a dose report sheet was available for retrospective analysis of CT scan protocols and dose, including the volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length product (DLP), effective dose, and size-specific dose estimates (SSDE). At 55.2%, multiphase CT was the most frequently performed protocol for abdominopelvic CT. Tube current modulation was applied most often in abdominopelvic CT and chest CT, accounting for 70.1% and 62.7%, respectively. Regarding the CT dose, the interquartile ranges of the CTDIvol were 11.1 to 22.5 (newborns), 16.6 to 39.1 (≤1 year), 14.6 to 41.7 (2-5 years), 23.5 to 44.1 (6-10 years), and 31.4 to 55.3 (≤15 years) for brain CT; 1.3 to 5.7 (≤1 year), 3.9 to 6.8 (2-5 years), 3.9 to 9.3 (6-10 years), and 7.7 to 13.8 (≤15 years) for chest CT; and 4.0 to 7.5 (≤1 year), 4.2 to 8.9 (2-5 years), 5.7 to 12.4 (6-10 years), and 7.6 to 16.6 (≤15 years) for abdominopelvic CT. The SSDE and CTDIvol were well correlated for patients <5 years old, whereas the CTDIvol was lower in patients ≥6 years old. Our study describes the various parameters and dosimetry metrics of pediatric CT in South Korea. The CTDIvol, DLP, and effective dose were generally lower than in German and UK surveys, except in certain age groups.

Kim PH, et al. Korean J Radiol. 2023 Nov;24(11):1151-1163. https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2023.0092

Son W, et al. Korean J Radiol. 2022 May;23:e38. https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2021.0466

A new scoring system that includes gestational age at birth, the presence of the triangular cord sign, abnormal gallbladder structure, and positive findings at hepatobiliary scintigraphy can help accurately estimate the risk for biliary atresia. Purpose To develop and validate a scoring system based on clinical and imaging features to predict the risk for biliary atresia in patients with neonatal cholestasis. Materials and Methods Patients with neonatal cholestasis who underwent both ultrasonography (US) and hepatobiliary scintigraphy (n = 480) were retrospectively identified from two tertiary referral hospitals from January 2000 to February 2017. Patients from one hospital were classified as the derivation cohort (n = 371), and those from the other hospital were classified as the validation cohort (n = 109). Clinical and imaging features associated with biliary atresia were assessed. Histopathologic or intraoperative cholangiographic findings served as the reference standard for biliary atresia. A prediction model was developed by using logistic regression and was then transformed into a scoring system. The scoring system was internally and externally validated. Results Among the 371 patients in the derivation cohort, 97 (26.15%) had biliary atr...