Potential of ultrasound in the pediatric chest

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Chest ultrasound (US) overcomes inherent limitations of US beam and air to aid in pediatric chest condition diagnosis.
• The utility of chest US has expanded, leading to its widespread adoption by medical subspecialists.
• This review focuses on the application of chest US in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of chest US techniques, indications, and applications in neonates, infants, and children.
• To discuss common, rare, and modern aspects of chest US, including specific thoracic structures and pathologies.
• To briefly compare chest US with other related imaging modalities.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of techniques, indications, and applications of chest US in pediatric populations.
• Inclusion of common, rare, and modern aspects of chest US.
• Discussion encompasses pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary lesions, mediastinum, diaphragm, and chest wall.

Main Results:

• Chest US is effective for diagnosing various pediatric chest conditions despite technical limitations.
• The review details a broad spectrum of applications, from common findings like pleural effusion to rarer conditions.
• Modern applications and specific anatomical regions (mediastinum, diaphragm, chest wall) are addressed.

Conclusions:

• Chest ultrasound is a versatile and increasingly important imaging modality for pediatric thoracic evaluation.
• Understanding its techniques and applications is crucial for subspecialists managing neonates, infants, and children with chest conditions.
• Chest US complements other imaging modalities in the comprehensive assessment of pediatric thoracic diseases.