Intestinal ultrasonography in children and young adults: bowel wall thickness is age dependent.

Abstract

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.