Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
06:15

Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus

Published on: March 6, 2019

Structural Lung Disease in Children and Adolescents With Severe Neurological Disorders

Daniel A F Bernard1, Cathrin Dahl1, Luca Salhöfer2

  • 1Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|June 11, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children with severe neurological disorders often have lung structure changes. Chest CT scans revealed common abnormalities and identified distinct patient phenotypes, guiding management changes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Radiology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Children with severe neurological disorders face high risks of respiratory complications.
  • Data on structural lung changes in this population are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate structural lung abnormalities in children with severe neurological disorders using chest CT.
  • To identify distinct clinical phenotypes and their association with lung changes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of chest CT scans in 34 children with severe neurological disorders.
  • Exploratory hierarchical clustering to define clinical phenotypes based on etiology, respiratory support, dysphagia, and mobility.

Main Results:

  • Structural lung abnormalities were frequent, including lobar consolidation (76%) and bronchial wall thickening (62%).
  • Three phenotypes were identified: stable neuromuscular, advanced neuromuscular-dysphagic (high bronchiectasis), and neurologic-dysphagic (high consolidation/ground-glass opacities).
  • Chest CT prompted management changes in 91% of patients, with many findings not visible on prior radiographs.

Conclusions:

  • Structural lung abnormalities are common in children with severe neurological disorders, even without primary lung disease.
  • Clinical phenotyping may help identify patients benefiting from chest CT.
  • Further prospective studies are needed to confirm CT-based strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chest computed tomography (CT)bronchiectasisdysphagianeurologic disordersneuromuscular diseases

More Related Videos

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome07:27

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Published on: January 23, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Other Pulmonary Disorders01:17

Other Pulmonary Disorders

Respiratory disorders encompass a range of conditions with varying levels of severity. Asthma, marked by chronic airway inflammation and hypersensitivity, is one such condition. It can lead to airway obstruction due to factors like bronchial spasms, mucosal edema, increased mucus secretion, or epithelial damage. Asthma triggers are diverse, ranging from allergens to emotional upset, and treatment focuses on both immediate relief through bronchodilators and long-term inflammation suppression.
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology01:20

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathophysiology is intricate and multifaceted, involving a complex interplay of physiological processes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing and treating COPD. Here is an in-depth look at the critical elements in the pathophysiology of COPD:
Chronic Inflammation