Imaging in adolescent medicine

Choosing the best imaging study for some of the common clinical entities encountered in the adolescent population is challenging. In all cases, a thorough history and physical examination are the foundation for arriving at a concise differential diagnosis. The purpose of imaging should be to confirm or rule out suspected pathology that requires immediate intervention or to further narrow the differential and direct additional imaging investigation accordingly. The topics for this article include suspected appendicitis, severe headache, acute-onset chest pain, acute-onset scrotal pain, lower abdominal and pelvic pain in adolescent girls, and suspected nephrolithiasis.