Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Robotic-assisted Bronchoscopy Combined with Multimodal Imaging for Targeted Lung Cryobiopsies
Published on: July 19, 2024
Utilization of low-dose multidetector CT and virtual bronchoscopy in children with suspected foreign body aspiration
Ibrahim Adaletli1, Sebuh Kurugoglu, Sila Ulus
1Department of Radiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, 34303 Kocamustafapaşa, Istanbul, Turkey. iadaletli@yahoo.com
Insights
Low-dose multidetector CT (MDCT) and virtual bronchoscopy (VB) effectively evaluate suspected foreign body aspiration (SFBA) in children. These non-invasive methods accurately locate obstructions, guiding the need for conventional bronchoscopy (CB).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Thoracic Imaging
- Interventional Pulmonology
Background:
- Foreign body aspiration is a frequent pediatric emergency, particularly in children under three.
- Radiography and CT scans are primary diagnostic tools for suspected foreign body aspiration (SFBA).
- Clinical management decisions for SFBA heavily rely on imaging findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of low-dose multidetector CT (MDCT) and virtual bronchoscopy (VB) for diagnosing and managing SFBA in pediatric patients.
- To determine if MDCT and VB can guide the necessity of conventional bronchoscopy (CB).
Main Methods:
- 37 children with SFBA underwent low-dose MDCT and VB.
- Conventional bronchoscopy (CB) was performed within 24 hours for patients with identified obstructive abnormalities on MDCT/VB.
- Patient data including age, sex, and imaging findings were collected.
Main Results:
- MDCT and VB identified obstructive pathology in 16 out of 37 children (43.25%).
- Foreign bodies were confirmed and removed via CB in 13 of these cases.
- In 21 patients without detected obstruction, CB was avoided, and follow-up showed no recurrent symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Low-dose MDCT and VB are valuable, non-invasive tools for investigating SFBA in children.
- These imaging techniques accurately pinpoint obstructive lesions, aiding in the decision to perform CB.
- MDCT and VB can help avoid unnecessary CB when no obstruction is evident, improving patient management.
Background:
Foreign body aspiration is common in children, especially those under 3 years of age. Chest radiography and CT are the main imaging modalities for the evaluation of these children. Management of children with suspected foreign body aspiration (SFBA) mainly depends on radiological findings.
Objective:
To investigate the potential use of low-dose multidetector CT (MDCT) and virtual bronchoscopy (VB) in the evaluation and management of SFBA in children.
Materials And Methods:
Included in the study were 37 children (17 girls, 20 boys; age 4 months to 10 years, mean 32 months) with SFBA. Chest radiographs were obtained prior to MDCT in all patients. MDCT was performed using a low-dose technique. VB images were obtained in the same session. Conventional bronchoscopy (CB) was performed within 24 h on patients in whom an obstructive abnormality had been found by MDCT and VB.
Results:
Obstructive pathology was found in 16 (43.25%) of the 37 patients using MDCT and VB. In 13 of these patients, foreign bodies were detected and removed via CB. The foreign bodies were located in the right main bronchus (n = 5), in the bronchus intermedius (n = 6), in the medial segment of the middle lobe bronchus (n = 1), and in the left main bronchus (n = 1). In the remaining three patients, the diagnosis was false-positive for an obstructive pathology by MDCT and VB; the final diagnoses were secretions (n = 2) and schwannoma (n = 1), as demonstrated by CB. In 21 patients in whom no obstructive pathology was detected by MDCT and VB, CB was not performed. These patients were followed for 5-20 months without any recurrent obstructive symptomatology.
Conclusions:
Low-dose MDCT and VB are non-invasive radiological modalities that can be used easily in the investigation of SFBA in children. MDCT and VB provide the exact location of the obstructive pathology prior to CB. If obstructive pathology is depicted with MDCT and VB, CB should be performed either for confirmation of the diagnosis or for the diagnosis of an alternative cause for the obstruction. In cases where no obstructive pathology is detected by MDCT and VB, CB may not be clinically useful.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due to...
01:30Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques
01:26Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and solid...