Ultrasound modalities and age-specific normative findings in pediatric and adolescent gynecology.
5 affiliations
- 1Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
- 2Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
- 3Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
- 4Department of Radiology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
- 5Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
Ultrasound is the first-line modality for imaging the female gynecological organs in children and adolescents. Its interpretation relies on understanding the physiological changes in organ appearance from birth through puberty. This narrative review considers different ultrasound approaches including transabdominal, transvaginal, transrectal, transperineal, Doppler and three-dimensional ultrasound, and when magnetic resonance imaging may add useful information. It then describes how normal uterine, ovarian, and endometrial appearances change across development. Although the evidence is drawn mainly from cross-sectional studies using different equipment, measurement methods, and reporting approaches, the studies describe a broadly consistent developmental pattern. A central practical message emerges: thresholds and diagnostic criteria derived from adults translate poorly to the developing pelvis, so interpretation rests not on memorizing cut-offs but on knowing what to expect at each age and stage, and on recognizing how wide normal physiological variation is. The review also identifies the principal evidence gaps: sparse data at the youngest ages, limited representation of diverse populations, an absence of longitudinal studies, a reliance on adult-derived criteria for diagnosing pathology such as adnexal masses, adenomyosis and endometriosis, and the lack of a standardized reporting framework. It then sets out priorities for future research.
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BibTeX
@article{policriti2026ultrasound,
title = {{Ultrasound modalities and age-specific normative findings in pediatric and adolescent gynecology.}},
author = {Martina Asia Policriti and Nina Cooper and May-Ai Seah and Bara'a Elhag and Dirk Timmerman and Tom Bourne and Maya Al-Memar},
journal = {Frontiers in reproductive health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/frph.2026.1953961},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904152},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ultrasound modalities and age-specific normative findings in pediatric and adolescent gynecology.
AU - Martina Asia Policriti
AU - Nina Cooper
AU - May-Ai Seah
AU - Bara'a Elhag
AU - Dirk Timmerman
AU - Tom Bourne
AU - Maya Al-Memar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Frontiers in reproductive health
DO - 10.3389/frph.2026.1953961
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904152
AB - Ultrasound is the first-line modality for imaging the female gynecological organs in children and adolescents. Its interpretation relies on understanding the physiological changes in organ appearance from birth through puberty. This narrative review considers different ultrasound approaches including transabdominal, transvaginal, transrectal, transperineal, Doppler and three-dimensional ultrasound, and when magnetic resonance imaging may add useful information. It then describes how normal uterine, ovarian, and endometrial appearances change across development. Although the evidence is drawn mainly from cross-sectional studies using different equipment, measurement methods, and reporting approaches, the studies describe a broadly consistent developmental pattern. A central practical message emerges: thresholds and diagnostic criteria derived from adults translate poorly to the developing pelvis, so interpretation rests not on memorizing cut-offs but on knowing what to expect at each age and stage, and on recognizing how wide normal physiological variation is. The review also identifies the principal evidence gaps: sparse data at the youngest ages, limited representation of diverse populations, an absence of longitudinal studies, a reliance on adult-derived criteria for diagnosing pathology such as adnexal masses, adenomyosis and endometriosis, and the lack of a standardized reporting framework. It then sets out priorities for future research.
SN - 2673-3153
ER -