Pediatric three-dimensional ultrasound: basics and potential clinical value

Three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) has become an established modality in some specialties; however, it has not gained significant importance in pediatric imaging. The aim of this short review article is to demonstrate and discuss promising potential applications of 3DUS in pediatric sonography. 3DUS is performed using a variety of techniques and devices, generally based on a volume reconstruction after the acquisition of a three-dimensional ultrasound (2DUS) image series, which is then viewed using various display formats. Based on our experience and a literature research, 3DUS appears to be a promising US technique for the neonatal brain and pediatric genitourinary tract. Furthermore, some other applications, such as 3DUS of the neonatal spinal canal, some soft tissue and mucsculo-skeletal queries, and tumor volume assessment, hold promising perspectives. 3DUS may reduce the imaging time of the patient, may improve the demonstration of complex anatomy, and has been shown to improve volume assessment. It furthermore holds the potential to improve standardization and documentation, as well as comparison with other sectional imaging. 3DUS also appears to be an ideal modality for training and education, as the 3D volume can be virtually rescanned at the workstation without the patient's presence. In conclusion, we believe that 3DUS is a promising imaging tool also for pediatric applications.