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Newborn ultrasound
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Conducting ultrasound examinations of newborns requires a certain skill.
Indications for ultrasound examination of a newborn
Suspected abnormalities:
- Organs of the abdominal cavity.
- Heads.
- Hip joints.
- Suspected pyloric stenosis.
Abdominal examination of newborns
Indications:
- Formations in the abdominal cavity.
- Fever of unknown origin.
- Hemolytic disease of the newborn.
- Infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis or listeriosis.
Liver
In order to fully visualize the entire liver, hepatic and portal veins, multiple sections must be made.
Gallbladder (jaundice)
It is not always possible to differentiate biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis using ultrasound imaging. Other causes of obstructive jaundice, such as common bile duct cysts, gallstones, hyperechoic thick bile, can also be detected using ultrasound imaging. The normal gallbladder is 2-4 cm long. The gallbladder is absent or greatly reduced in extrahepatic biliary atresia, but may also be of normal size.
Blood vesselsIt is important to be able to visualize the major blood vessels of the fetus and their main branches.
Kidneys
When examining to exclude diseases of the urinary system, it is necessary to remember that up to approximately 6 months of age, the kidneys differ significantly in acoustic characteristics from the kidneys of adults.
- Corticomedullary differentiation is more pronounced in children.
- The renal pyramids are relatively more hypoechoic and may simulate cysts.
- The parenchyma cortex is less echogenic than the liver parenchyma.
As the child grows, corticomedullary differentiation decreases.