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PedsCrit

Neuroimaging for the Pediatric Intensivist with Dr. Ilyse Genser -- Part 1

Mar 10, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Ilyse Genser, a pediatric neurologist and associate program director at Children's National Hospital, dives into the intricacies of neuroimaging for critically ill children. She shares essential insights on using head ultrasounds and CT scans, underlining the balance between diagnostic benefits and radiation concerns. Dr. Genser explains the urgent protocols for assessing pediatric strokes and highlights the importance of timely imaging. Her expert guidance equips pediatric intensivists with practical strategies for navigating complex cases.
25:43

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Head ultrasounds are effective first-line imaging tools in pediatrics, particularly for assessing infants without radiation exposure risks.
  • The choice of neuroimaging techniques must adapt to each patient's condition and available resources, balancing urgency with diagnostic accuracy.

Deep dives

Understanding Neuroimaging Techniques in Pediatrics

Neuroimaging techniques play a critical role in evaluating pediatric patients with potential neurological issues. In cases like infants with decreased movement or signs of intracranial pathology, head ultrasounds can serve as a first-line imaging method due to their lack of radiation exposure and effectiveness in babies with open fontanelles. While CT scans are commonly used for quick assessments and are sensitive to acute hemorrhages, they do involve radiation, posing a risk if done repeatedly. Ultimately, selecting the most appropriate imaging modality depends on the patient's condition, imaging availability, and the necessity to make urgent clinical decisions.

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