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Prenatally detected abdominal and pelvic masses are commonly cystic in morphology and usually seen on mid-trimester sonography. Sonography is the favored imaging modality for the postnatal evaluation of these lesions in newborns, given its availability, low cost, lack of ionizing radiation, lack of sedation, and high spatial resolution in small patients. The differential diagnosis of abdominopelvic cystic masses in newborns is broad given that they can arise from many organs and may have overlapping features on imaging. This article illustrates an approach to the postnatal sonographic evaluation of prenatally detected cystic abdominal and pelvic masses based on their anatomic location and distinctive sonographic characteristics, which can aid in an accurate diagnosis and guide appropriate management.

Sustainability communication has been an increasing focus globally for many diverse and complex resource-based industries, including beef production, due to an increase in public scrutiny. However, this has received limited research interest. This study, drawing on in-depth interviews, explores key internal and external stakeholders’ perceptions of sustainability communication challenges using the Australian beef industry as a case study. Diverse views about public perceptions, the role of communications in trust, and internal issues reflect challenges such as industry culture, isolation, and industry complexity and breadth. This research highlights and discusses a range of sustainability communication issues in complex contexts.

Third and fourth branchial anomalies are rare, accounting for less than 10% of all branchial anomalies. The piriform fossa sinus tract (PFST) typically presents with left-side suppurative thyroiditis, although it can present earlier in neonates as a non-inflamed cystic neck mass. PFST poses a considerable diagnostic challenge with variable clinical and imaging features, leading to long delays to definitive diagnosis and appropriate management.To analyse the patterns of presentation and imaging findings in children with PFST, with a particular focus on neonatal presentation.This was a retrospective review of the clinical presentation, imaging findings and management in 16 cases of PFST presenting to our tertiary children's hospital between 2003 and 2018. Cases were identified by medical records and picture archiving and communication system (PACS) search using relevant International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 coding.Age at presentation ranged from prenatal to 16 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. All patients presented with neck swelling. Thirteen patients (81%) had suppurative thyroiditis at initial presentation. Two patients had severe thyroiditis/mediastinitis that required intensive care unit admission. Three neonates presented with noninfected, asymptomatic large cystic neck masses; two of these were detected prenatally and misdiagnosed as lymphatic malformations with subsequent spontaneous clinical resolution that later represented with evidence of PFST. The PFST was on the left side in 15/16 (94%) patients. All patients had neck imaging before definitive diagnosis. Imaging studies included radiographs, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and barium esophagram studies. No single modality was diagnostic of PFST in all patients. Seventy-five percent of patients had multimodal imaging before diagnosis. All PFSTs were confirmed by endoscopic visualisation. Management of PFST was by endoscopic cauterisation in 13 patients and open surgery in 2. One patient did not require surgical correction.Our study highlights the complex nature of PFST. The anomaly is uncommon, has variable clinical and imaging features and may have a lengthy, complicated course if not considered at initial presentation. An episode of suppurative thyroiditis in a child should prompt investigation for PFST. We describe atypical presentations with cystic masses in neonates that appear to resolve but represent later as typical clinical features of PFST.

The appearance of the paediatric thymus changes as the normal process of thymic involution occurs. Thymic tissue may be orthotopic within the anterior mediastinum or ectopically located along the course of its embryological development. The variable appearance of orthotopic and ectopic thymic tissue in children on imaging studies may lead to misinterpretation of the normal thymus as pathology. Recognition of normal thymic tissue can mitigate unnecessary further diagnostic testing and patient anxiety. In this review, we discuss the embryological development and anatomical variants of normal thymus, and demonstrate the multimodality imaging features of the normal thymus in children, including positron-emission tomography, and diffusion-weighted imaging and in- and opposed-phase imaging on magnetic resonance imaging. We demonstrate the normal thymus mimicking pathological processes and discuss features that distinguish normal thymus, including thymic rebound hyperplasia, from pathology.

Background/Purpose Improvement opportunities exist in the accuracy and timeliness of the diagnosis of childhood appendicitis. The purpose of our study was to conduct a post-implementation audit of a diagnostic pathway for children with suspected appendicitis presenting to our pediatric emergency department. Methods We adopted a diagnostic pathway that utilized a validated risk of appendicitis stratification tool (Alvarado Score) with protocolized use of abdominal ultrasound for moderate risk patients. We conducted a 10% convenience sample audit of pathway patients treated over the subsequent 18-month period. Outcome measures included false negative and positive rates, sensitivity, specificity, and overall pathway accuracy. Results One hundred thirty-four pathway patients, of which 22 (16.4%) had appendicitis confirmed pathologically, were evaluated. The risk group distribution of patients was: low risk (29%), moderate risk (60%), and high risk (11%). The negative appendectomy rate was 4.4% (reduced from 14% pre-pathway), and the false negative (missed appendicitis) rate was 3.0%. No patients received CT scans. Pathway sensitivity was 81.8%% (95% CI 59.7% to 94.8%), specificity-92.9%% (95% CI 86.4%–96.9%), and overall accuracy-91.0% (95% CI 84.9%–95.3%). Conclusion Implementation of a diagnostic pathway achieved a high level of accuracy and reduced our institutional negative appendectomy rate by 67%. The audit identified additional pathway improvement opportunities. Levels of Evidence Level IV.

OBJECTIVES Radiographic survey of the entire aerodigestive tract (nares to anus) is common practice in children presenting to the emergency department following coin ingestion. The purpose of our study was to determine the optimal protocol for radiographic survey post-coin ingestion. We hypothesized that for children presenting with a clear history of coin ingestion a frontal chest radiograph including the entire esophagus is adequate to guide treatment. METHODS We reviewed the clinical history and radiographic surveys of 134 patients presenting with suspected or witnessed coin ingestion to the emergency department of a tertiary care pediatric hospital between January 2012 and June 2016. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms, anatomic coverage of survey, type, number and location of radiopaque foreign bodies, intervention, and follow-up were recorded. RESULTS Coins were identified on radiographic surveys in 109 of 134 patients; 25 of 134 patients had no coin. Of those with coins, none of 109 had coin(s) in the airway, 42 of 109 had coin(s) in the esophagus, and 67 of 109 had coin(s) distal to the esophagus. Of those with esophageal coins, 35 of 42 reported symptoms, 7 of 42 were asymptomatic, 40 of 42 underwent endoscopic coin removal, and 2 of 42 had no intervention. Of 92 of 134 surveyed patients with no coin or coin distal to the esophagus, 30 of 92 reported symptoms, 62 of 92 were asymptomatic, 90 of 92 had no further intervention, and 2 of 92 eventually underwent endoscopic coin removal for specific indications (abdominal pain, delayed passage). When there was no coin found in the esophagus, the negative predictive value for intervention was 97.8%. CONCLUSIONS Following a clear history of coin ingestion, a frontal chest radiograph including the entire length of the esophagus provides sufficient information to direct patient management.

Second malignancy as a long-term complication in survivors of advanced-stage neuroblastoma is rare, but it is becoming recognized more frequently. We report an unusual case of a soft-tissue sarcoma developing within a retroperitoneal primary following previous extensive treatment for metastatic neuroblastoma using multimodality imaging including PET/CT.

One hundred consecutive patients being investigated for scoliosis were studied using a double cassette containing a conventional film screen and a stimulable phosphor plate. The images were separated, randomised and scored thrice by three radiologists for anatomic structure visualisation. The exposure to the plate and film and repeat rate were measured. Scoliosis angles were comparable on both sets of images, however, visualisation of vertebrae, vertebral end plates, pedicles, spinous processes and other structures were significantly improved (p0.0001). Intra- and inter-observer reliability was high with good intraclass correlation. There was a 40% potential exposure reduction, and retakes were decreased from 3 to 0%. We conclude that stimulable phosphor images give better anatomic structure visualisation with potential radiation exposure reduction and lower repeat rate.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in the local staging of Wilms' tumor. Methods: Twenty-six patients with unilateral, nonmetastatic Wilms' tumors were accrued over the period of 1990 through 1997. Preoperative CT staging was performed before surgical biopsy or excision. The abdominal CT images were reviewed and staged for local disease according to National Wilms' Tumour Study (NWTS) Group Staging V as either intrarenal disease (Stage I), local extrarenal extension amenable to complete local excision (Stage II), or advanced local disease (Stage III). Patients with metastatic (Stage IV) and bilateral disease (Stage V) were excluded from our study. Results were compared to histological findings. Results: CT scan correctly staged 10 of 26 cases (38%) of Wilms' tumor. CT scan overstaged 12 of 16 (75%) localized renal disease (Stage I) and local extension (Stage II) tumors, and understaged 4 of 10 (40%) localized spread (Stage III) tumors. Conclusions: CT scan appears to have poor correlation to histological staging. Therefore, basing therapy solely on radiological imaging may lead to some patients receiving more intense therapy than necessary, whereas others do not receive sufficient therapeutic regimens. Histological assessment of the excised mass should remain the standard for staging Wilms' tumors. J Pediatr Surg 35:677-679. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.

This report describes an intraosseous maple branch fragment which presented on initial radiographs as a benign appearing lytic bone lesion. Sonography and CT confirmed the presence of intraosseous and intra-articular foreign body and chronic foreign body reaction.