Live Healthy and Strong

Medical Tests To Diagnose Diseases and Conditions In Children – Part 1

There are a wide variety of medical tests that can help diagnose diseases and conditions in children. These include scans (CT, MRI, nuclear), echocardiography, ultrasounds, X ray, and scans of bone, kidney, lung, thyroid, and urinary bladder.

CT Scan (Computed Tomography, or CAT scan)
CT scans provide many cross-sectional images of the body by using special X rays and computer enhancement to create an image that is much more sensitive than a simple X ray. After x-raying the body from many angles, the X rays are then analyzed by a computer to provide a picture of the body that can be viewed on a monitor or printed out as a photograph. The images show a composite slice of the body (usually the head, chest, or abdomen). In this procedure, a child lies flat on a movable table that moves into the center of the CT scanner.

As the child remains still, X rays are beamed into the body. If the child cannot remain still, sedatives are administered. Sometimes a dye or other contrast material is injected to better reveal blood vessels. Results are interpreted by radiologists and then reported to the child’s doctor, who will analyze and interpret them for the parents.

Echocardiography
This procedure uses a special device to detect the sound that is reflected from a beating heart. Sometimes called “diagnostic cardiac ultrasound,” this test uses reflected sound waves to show if a child has congenital heart defects, fluid around the heart, valve disorders, or weakened heart muscles. It is possible to actually see the heart move as the images are projected on a monitor. The direction of blood flow into and out of the heart can be seen in different colors on the monitor.

In this procedure, a child lies on his back, tilted slightly to the side. A special jelly is applied to the skin on the area of the heart, and the transducer is positioned over the heart. As sound waves are reflected back to the transducer, an image becomes visible on a monitor that can be turned into printouts from the screen. This test produces no radiation and the child experiences no discomfort. Although images are produced immediately, they must be interpreted by a cardiologist and sent to the child’s doctor, who will interpret them for the parents.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Another way to take pictures of the inside of the body involves the use of magnetism and radio waves to produce much more detailed images than an X ray because of its ability to separate different types of soft tissues. As radio waves are sent to a specific part of the body, the atoms emit their own radio waves that are translated into images by a computer. MRI can be used to look at any area of the body and is especially useful in diagnosing disease of the soft tissues of the head, spinal cord, kidneys, urinary tract, pancreas, and liver.

MRIs are also the procedure of choice to detect sports injuries involving tendon and ligament damage. After removing any metal objects, a child lies on a table that slides into a tube so that radio waves can be directed at the body, triggering the body’s atoms to create radio waves that are picked up by the MRI scanner. The information is then used to create a composite slice that can be viewed on a monitor and printed for further study. Although the process is painless, it can frighten some children because they are confined in the tube during the procedure. For this reason, sedatives may be given. Because it tends to be very noisy inside the tube, earplugs are usually given to help eliminate the noise; alternatively, earphones are usually available for children who would like to listen to tapes. The scan takes 30 to 60 minutes.

Some hospitals offer an open MRI, which does not require confining a child to the tunnel; this procedure is faster and less noisy, making it ideal for children. MRI results are interpreted by a radiologist and sent to the child’s doctor, who will present them to the parents.

Radioisotope (Nuclear) Scan
A number of tests use very small quantities of radioactive materials (radioisotopes) to reveal parts of the body. The radioisotope is attached to another substance that is injected, inhaled, or swallowed, so that special devices can sense their position and produce an image of them as they appear in a child’s internal organs. Although it may seem dangerous to swallow a radioactive substance, the quantity and duration of radioactivity in these tests have been designed to be safe in humans, and should not cause any harmful effects.

Bone Scan
A bone scan can detect changes in bone growth and identify cancer, infections, or the reason for unexplained bone pain, such as a break that did not show up on an X ray. This test evaluates how a radioactive isotope collects in the bone. The radioactive isotope is injected into a vein and is absorbed by the bones; as the tracer isotope emits radiation, it is detected by a scanner. It takes about two to four hours after the injection before enough of the radiation has collected in the bones for the scan to be done.

During the test, a child lies flat on a table while a special camera records the distribution of the tracer isotope. An abnormal distribution of the isotope indicates a problem. The bone scan is interpreted by a radiologist and sent to the child’s doctor, who will present the findings to the parents.