Background & Aims No treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been approved by regulatory agencies. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine whether 52 weeks of cysteamine bitartrate delayed release (CBDR) reduces the severity of liver disease in children with NAFLD. Methods We performed a double-masked trial of 169 children with NAFLD Activity Scores ≥ 4 at 10 centers. From June 2012 to January 2014, the patients were randomly assigned to receive CBDR or placebo twice daily (300 mg for ≤65 kg, 375 mg for >65–80 kg, 450 mg for >80 kg) for 52 weeks. The primary outcome from the intention to treat analysis was improvement in liver histology over 52 weeks, defined as a decrease in NAFLD Activity Score ≥ 2 points without worsening fibrosis; patients without biopsies from week 52 (17 in the CBDR group and 6 in the placebo group) were considered non-responders. We calculated relative risks (RR) of improvement using stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel analysis. Results There was no significant difference between groups in the primary outcome (28% of children in the CBDR group vs 22% in the placebo group; RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8–2.1; P=.34). However, children receiving CBDR had significant changes in pre-specified secondary outcomes: reduced mean levels of alanine aminotransferase (reduction of 53±88 U/L vs a reduction of 8±77 U/L in the placebo group; P=.02) and aspartate aminotransferase (reduction of 31±52 vs a reduction of 4±36 U/L in the placebo group; P=.008), and a larger proportion had reduced lobular inflammation (in 36% of patients in the CBDR group vs placebo 21% of patients in the placebo group; RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–2.9; P=.03). In a post-hoc analyses, of children ≤65 kg, those taking CBDR had a 4-fold better chance of histologic improvement (observed in 50% of children in the CBDR group vs 13% in the placebo group; RR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.3–12.3; P=.005). Conclusions In a randomized trial, we found that 1 year of CBDR did not reduce overall histologic markers of NAFLD compared with placebo in children. Children receiving CBDR did, however, have significant reductions in serum levels of aminotransferase levels and lobular inflammation. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT01529268.

OBJECTIVE The introduction of MDCT has increased the utilization of CT in pediatric radiology along with concerns for radiation sequelae. This article reviews general principles of lowering radiation dose, the basic physics that impact radiation dose, and specific CT integrated dose-reduction tools focused on the pediatric population. CONCLUSION The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the recent literature regarding CT dose reduction methods, their limitations, and an outlook on future developments with a focus on the pediatric population. The discussion will initially focus on general considerations that lead to radiation dose reduction, followed by specific technical features that influence the radiation dose.

Moderate/severe STIR hyperintensities often foreshadow fatty replacement over a 2-year interval. Whether longer time courses are required to observe muscle degeneration and fatty replacement in some subjects remains to be explored.

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Imaging is crucial in expediting the diagnosis and guiding definitive therapy in children with ovarian torsion. This article reviews the multimodality spectrum of imaging findings in pediatric ovarian torsion, focusing primarily on US appearances. We describe predisposing conditions that can lead to torsion, the pathological basis of the radiologic findings in ovarian torsion, and the common diagnostic pitfalls.

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Objective To investigate the relationship between abdominal ultrasound (US) findings and demographic, historical and clinical features in children with CF. Study design Children age 3-12 years with CF without known cirrhosis, were enrolled in a prospective, multi-center study of US to predict hepatic fibrosis. Consensus US patterns were assigned by 3 radiologists as normal, heterogeneous, homogeneous, or cirrhosis. Data were derived from direct collection and U.S. or Toronto CF registries. Chi-square or ANOVA were used to compare variables among US groups and between normal and abnormal. Logistic regression was used to study risk factors for having abnormal US. Results Findings in 719 subjects were normal (n=590, 82.1%), heterogeneous (64, 8.9%), homogeneous (41, 5.7%), and cirrhosis (24, 3.3%). Cirrhosis (p=0.0004), homogeneous (p<0.0001) and heterogeneous (p=0.03) were older than normal. More males were heterogeneous (p=0.001). More heterogeneous (15.0%, p=0.009) and cirrhosis (25.0%, p=0.005) had CF-related diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance versus normal (5.4%). Early infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (<2 years old) was associated with a lower risk (OR 0.42, p=0.0007) of abnormal. Ursodeoxycholic acid use (OR 3.69, p <0.0001) and CF-related diabetes (OR 2.21, p=0.019) were associated with increased risk of abnormal. Conclusions Unsuspected cirrhosis is seen in 3.3% of young patients with CF, heterogeneous in 8.9%. abnormal US is associated with CF-related diabetes, and early P aeruginosa is associated with normal US. Prospective assessment of these risk factors may identify potential interventional targets.