Advances in Pediatric Large Airway Imaging: Looking Back and Looking Forward

The pediatric large airways can be affected by a myriad of diseases that include congenital, infectious, neoplastic, inflammatory, traumatic, or even iatrogenic causes. Medical imaging is paramount in the diagnosis of large airway disease and plays a crucial role in avoiding some of its most serious life-threatening conditions. This review article will highlight some important anatomic and physiologic differences and their diagnostic implications. Recent advances, recommended imaging protocols, and evidence-based diagnostic algorithms of the pediatric large airways will be discussed. The spectrum of congenital and acquired disorders affecting this region of the thorax will be described.