Descriptive Study of Ultrasonography Assessment of Urinary Bladder Wall Thickness among Healthy Children

Introduction: The urinary bladder, when full, appears as a fluid-filled, echo-free cystic structure on ultrasound. Its shape can vary, ranging from round to ovoid or oblong. The bladder’s wall is smooth and muscular, and its thickness can be assessed using ultrasound. In infants, the bladder wall is relatively thicker compared to other age groups. Materials and Methods: This prospective study involved an ultrasonographic evaluation of urinary bladder wall thickness in 75 healthy children aged 5 to 12 years. All participants were free from any current urological conditions or history of bladder pathology. Bladder wall thickness was measured sonographically at three points—anterior, posterior, and lateral—using a high-frequency (6.0 MHz) ultrasound probe. Results: The overall mean bladder wall thickness across all points was 1.9 mm. The mean anterior bladder wall thickness was 1.75 mm (± 0.21 mm), the mean posterior thickness was 2.0 mm (± 0.33 mm), and the mean lateral thickness was 1.98 mm (± 0.12 mm). Conclusions: Significant differences were observed between the anterior, posterior, and lateral bladder wall measurements. Bladder wall thickness was positively correlated with age.