Current Trends in the Imaging Diagnosis of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS): Chest X-ray Versus Lung...

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns, particularly in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Until recently, its diagnosis had been based on clinical signs, arterial blood gas analysis, and chest X-ray (CXR). However, the frequent use of CXR exposes newborns to ionizing radiation, which can have long-term negative effects, including an increased risk of cancer, especially among premature infants. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has been proposed as a promising alternative for diagnosing NRDS due to its many advantages: no exposure to radiation, the ability to be performed at the bedside, repeatability, and ease of use. This review compared the diagnostic accuracy of LUS with the reference standard, CXR, in evaluating NRDS in newborns admitted to the NICU. Studies have shown that LUS can identify specific signs of NRDS, such as bilateral "white lung," pleural line abnormalities, and lung consolidations. The method has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing this condition and offers several advantages over other diagnostic methods; it does not involve ionizing radiation, thereby eliminating the risk of radiation exposure; it is cost-effective, easy to use, and can be performed at the patient's bedside, making it a viable alternative to CXR for reducing ionizing radiation exposure. Additionally, LUS can be used to monitor the progression of respiratory diseases and guide clinical management, especially in determining the optimal timing for surfactant administration in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). We conclude that LUS is an effective and non-invasive alternative method for diagnosing and managing NRDS, with the potential to improve the safety and quality of care in the NICU, where rapid and safe diagnostic tools are essential for managing the health of newborns.