The Diameter of the Rectum on Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Tool for Constipation in Children With Dysfunctional Voiding

Abstract

The transverse diameter of the rectum measured by lower abdominal ultrasound provides an additional accurate parameter with which to diagnose constipation in patients with nonneurogenic bladder-sphincter dyssynergia.

Value of Abdominal Radiography, Colonic Transit Time, and Rectal Ultrasound Scanning in the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Constipation in Children: A Systematic Review

“…Zaslavsky et al found that in children with constipation, the mean CTT was significantly different from that in the control group (58.25 AE 17.46 hours compared with 30.18 AE 13.15 hours). 27 No further test characteristics could be calculated in the latter two studies.…”

“…No diagnostic accuracy study (n=8;CTT;X-ray) [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] No children included (n=1;ultrasound) 17 No control group (n=1;CTT) 18 No reference standard defined (n=2;ultrasound;X-ray) 19,20 Patients with severe comorbidity (n=1;CTT) 21 Systematic review, no QUADAS (n=1;CTT) 22 Included papers (n=10) Systematic review including 6 studies on abdominal radiography (n=1) 23 Diagnostic value of abdominal radiography (n=2) 24,25 Diagnostic value of CTT (n=3) [25][26][27] Diagnostic value of Ultrasonography (n=4) [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Figure. …”

Bladder and bowel dysfunction in children: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of a common, but underdiagnosed pediatric problem

“…However, it not only can be of assistance in delineating the urinary tract, but transverse rectal diameter ≥ 3 cm correlate with evidence of rectal fecal impaction on digital rectal examination (DRE). 20 Therefore, the transabdominal ultrasound may corroborate the diagnosis of constipation. Also, the measurement of the PVR volume can be obtained on ultrasonography, so this study, if ordered properly, can suggest constipation and give an idea of bladder functionality.…”

Pediatric Bladder Disorders

“…• Rectum diameter: a pathologic threshold is not fully validated, but a rectum diameter >30 mm correlates with rectal impaction on digital rectal examination [54].…”