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Updated: Aug 27, 2025

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
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Pneumonia-related pneumatoceles in infants: CT assessment and image-guided treatment

Elisa Mercanzin, Pietro Andrea Bonaffini, Antonino Barletta1

  • 1Department of Neuroradiology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.

BJR Case Reports
|September 30, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Persistent lung pneumatoceles in infants, a complication of pneumonia, may require intervention. Image-guided percutaneous drainage offers a safe and effective treatment option when conservative measures fail.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Lung pneumatoceles are air-filled cysts in the lung parenchyma, often a complication of pneumonia, particularly in infants.
  • Spontaneous resolution of pneumatoceles is common, but persistent or complicated cases pose significant management challenges.
  • Current literature and guidelines for managing non-resolving infant pneumatoceles are limited.

Observation:

  • Computed tomography (CT) is crucial for diagnosing, characterizing, and monitoring lung pneumatoceles.
  • Image-guided percutaneous drainage has demonstrated safety and efficacy in older children but is less established in neonates and infants.
  • This case series reviews CT findings of complicated/persistent pneumatoceles in infants.

Findings:

  • Image-guided percutaneous drainage was successfully employed in four infants with pneumonia-related pneumatoceles.
  • The procedure effectively managed persistent or complicated pneumatoceles, avoiding surgical intervention.
  • CT imaging guided the drainage procedure and confirmed successful resolution.

Implications:

  • Percutaneous drainage should be considered a viable treatment for complicated or persistent infant pneumatoceles.
  • This approach may offer a less invasive alternative to surgery for this challenging pediatric condition.
  • Further research and guideline development are warranted to support the broader adoption of image-guided drainage in infants.

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