Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 19, Issue 5 315-321, Copyright © 2000 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Intestinal ultrasonography in children and young adults: bowel wall thickness is age dependent
H. P. Haber and M. Stern
Department of Pediatrics, University of Tubingen, Germany.
The purpose of this study was to investigate bowel wall thickness in
children, adolescents, and young adults as measured by ultrasonography.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of the small bowel and the colon was performed
in 128 subjects (age range, 3 days to 40 years). Bowel wall thickness
increased significantly (P < 0.0001) increased with age, reaching a
maximum colon wall thickness of 2.0 mm at the age range of 20 to 29 years.
In the ileum, maximum wall thickness reached 1.5 mm at the age range of 10
to 14 years. The findings emphasize the need for age-specific normal values
for bowel wall thickness measured by ultrasonography.
