Medical Tests To Diagnose Diseases and Conditions In Children – Part 2
Kidney Scan
The kidney scan uses radioisotopes to identify problems with the structure and function of the kidney. These scans are used after kidney transplants and to diagnose kidney failure, disorders, and infections.
In this test, the child lies on a table and a substance with a small amount of a radioisotope is injected into a vein. Then the kidneys are scanned, and images are sent to a computer. Results will be read by a radiologist and sent to the child’s doctor, who will present them to the parents.
Liver or Gallbladder Scan
The liver or gallbladder scan uses radioactive isotopes to look for liver or gallbladder damage: hepatitis, cirrhosis, abscess, infection, cancer, or injury. After a radioisotope is injected into a vein, it is absorbed by the liver or gallbladder. During the test, the child lies on a table under a scanner; the radioactive material is then picked up by a scanner, which transmits images to a computer. The radiologist interprets the findings and sends them to the child’s doctor, who will present them to the parents.
Lung Scan
A nuclear lung scan helps to determine the presence of a blood or abnormal formation of the lung. In this test, radioactive gas lung tracers are given by inhalation or injection so that the chest can be scanned. These scans can also be used to study malformations of the lung. The results will be read by a radiologist and sent to the child’s doctor, who will present them to the parents.
Thyroid Scan
Thyroid scans are not often performed in children because there is not much risk of thyroid disease in children. The thyroid scan uses radioisotopes to discover problems with the structure or function of the gland. These tests can help determine if a patient has thyroid problems, including hyperthyroidism and cancer or other growths.
In this test, a radioisotope is injected into a vein so that the neck can be scanned with a camera to display an image of the thyroid gland in several views. The thyroid scan will be read by a radiologist and sent to the child’s doctor, who will present the results to the parents.
Urinary Bladder Scan
This test is also called a radionuclide voiding cystogram, and it is used to detect whether urine is flowing backward from the bladder to the kidney, which can be associated with an infection. In this test, a small amount of radioisotope is added to a fluid, which is inserted into the bladder by a catheter. After the bladder is filled, the child urinates and images are obtained throughout the test to detect reflux.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound can examine many parts of a child’s body by using high-frequency sound waves to bounce off internal organs and create pictures. Some of the organs that can be examined by painless ultrasound include the kidneys, liver, spleen, brain, female pelvis, and the hips. A special jelly is applied to the skin on the area that is tested; as the transducer is positioned over the area, sound waves are reflected back to the transducer, and the image appears on a monitor. Printouts are then made from the screen. Although the images are created immediately, they must be interpreted by a radiologist; results will be reported to a doctor, who will interpret them for parents.
X Ray
X rays consist of electromagnetic radiation (like light), but with a shorter wavelength, that penetrates the body and forms an image on film. Any part of the body can be x-rayed, and the procedure is particularly useful in diagnosing injuries or changes in bones. Chest X rays can detect pneumonia or other lung diseases, and determining heart size. Some tests use dyes or other materials (such as barium) that show up on X rays to outline structures within the body. In an “upper GI,” for example, the child swallows a contrast material, and an X ray examines the progress of the material through the stomach and upper small intestine. The contrast material gives the radiologist a better look at the shape of the gastrointestinal tract.
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