Usefulness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of superficial soft-tissue head lesions in children

Abstract

: Pediatric patients presenting with head masses are not rare. However, it is difficult to make a diagnosis based solely on clinical findings. Although CT or MRI can be used for diagnosis, the former has problems associated with radiation exposure. In addition, pediatric patients must be sedated for examination using these methods. Ultrasonography can be performed easily at the bedside, and using a high-frequency probe, it is possi-ble to obtain high-resolution images that surpass MRI images. Here, we report the usefulness of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of superficial soft-tissue head lesions in two children. Case 1 : A 6-month-old girl was referred to our hospital due to a pulsatile mass in the midline of the occipital re-gion. Ultrasonography showed a compressible, hypoechoic, tubular structure, and its vascular communication between the superior sagittal sinus and extracranial vessel through the cranial defect was detected by the color Doppler method. A diagnosis of sinus pericranii was made. Case 2 : A 7-month-old boy was referred to our hospital due to a swelling in the right temporal region. Scalp he-matoma and skull fracture were confirmed by ultrasonography. The patient was closely observed without treat-ment until the fracture healed. Conclusions : Ultrasonography is useful in the diagnosis of superficial soft-tissue head lesions in children. As ultrasonography can be performed repeatedly and noninvasively, it is useful not only for diagnosis, but also for fol-low-up.