Reference Values for Central Airway Dimensions on CT Images of Children and Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to acquire normative data on central airway dimensions on chest CT scans in the pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest CT findings reported as normal by a radiologist were collected retrospectively at 10 international centers. An experienced and independent thoracic radiologist reevaluated all CT scans for image quality and for normal findings. Semiautomated image analysis was performed to measure dimensions of the trachea and right and left main bronchi at inspiration. Intrathoracic tracheal length was measured from carina to thorax inlet. Cross-sectional area and short and long axes were measured perpendicular to the longitudinal airway axis starting from the carina every centimeter upward for the trachea and every 0.5 cm downward for the main bronchi. The effects on airway diameters of age, sex, intrathoracic tracheal length, and distance from the carina were investigated by use of mixed-effects models analysis. RESULTS: Among 1160 CT scans collected, 388 were evaluated as normal by the independent radiologist with sufficient image quality and adequate inspiratory volume level. Central airways were successfully semiautomatically analyzed in 294 of 388 CT studies. Age, sex, intrathoracic tracheal length, and distance from carina were all significant predictors in the models for tracheal and right and left main bronchial diameters (p < 0.001). The central airway dimensions increased with age up to 20 years, and dimensions were larger in male than in female adolescents. CONCLUSION: Normative data were determined for the central airways of children and adolescents. Central airway dimensions depended on distance from the carina and on intrathoracic tracheal length.

Neonatal and Infant Lung Disorders: Glossary, Practical Approach, and Diagnoses.

A multitude of lung disorders ranging from congenital and genetic anomalies to iatrogenic complications can affect the neonate or the infant within the first year of life. Neonatal and infant chest imaging, predominantly by plain radiography and computed tomography, is frequently employed to aid in diagnosis and management; however, these disorders can be challenging to differentiate due to their broad-ranging, and frequently overlapping radiographic features. A systematic and practical approach to imaging interpretation which includes recognition of radiologic patterns, utilization of commonly accepted nomenclature and classification, as well as interpretation of imaging findings in conjunction with clinical history can not only assist radiologists to suggest the diagnosis, but also aid clinicians in management planning. The contents of this article were endorsed by the leadership of both the World Federation of Pediatric Imaging (WFPI), and the International Society of Pediatric Thoracic Imaging (ISPTI).

Congenital lung malformations: radiological findings and clues for differential diagnosis.

Congenital lung malformations encompass a wide spectrum of conditions with a broadly varying clinical presentation. They are often a source of morbidity in infants and children. Their management depends on the type of malformation and its clinical presentation. Usually, the diagnosis requires an imaging evaluation. Classifications of bronchopulmonary malformations have undergone significant revision in recent years and several theories have attempted to explain their confusing pathogenesis. There are considerable degrees of overlapping and hybrid conditions are common, with interrelated malformations showing various radiologic and pathologic features. Attending to the pathophysiological mechanisms and structures involved, lung malformations can be divided into three categories: bronchopulmonary anomalies, combined lung and vascular abnormalities, and vascular anomalies. The purpose of this article is to review the current imaging techniques for evaluating lung malformations in pediatric patients and their characteristic imaging findings. Moreover, this review discusses a useful classification and offers some clues to facilitate the differential diagnosis.

Pediatric Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: Imaging Guidelines and Recommendations.

Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Various organisms cause LRTI, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, among others. Infections caused by 2 or more organisms also occur, sometimes enhancing the severity of the infection. Medical imaging helps confirm a diagnosis but also plays a role in the evaluation of acute and chronic sequelae. Medical imaging tests help evaluate underlying pathology in pediatric patients with recurrent or long-standing symptoms as well as the immunocompromised.

Thoracic findings of systemic diseases at high-resolution CT in children.

Pulmonary involvement in systemic diseases is common, but the radiographic appearance of early-stage pulmonary changes is often subtle. Computed tomography (CT) has higher sensitivity and specificity than radiography, and high-resolution CT is the method of choice for accurate assessment of diffuse parenchymal lung disease. Even with reductions in the peak voltage and tube charge to minimize the exposure of pediatric patients to radiation, CT performed with a meticulous acquisition technique can provide detailed information. In some cases, high-resolution CT may depict clinically silent lung lesions. The information provided by CT is invaluable for planning therapy in pediatric patients with pulmonary involvement in connective tissue disease (eg, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or mixed connective tissue disease), vasculitis, a primary or acquired immune deficiency disorder, immotile cilia syndrome, cystic fibrosis, or Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

White hemithorax in children.

The aim of this pictorial review is to introduce the radiologist to the differential diagnosis of a white hemithorax in children, to provide significant information on the diagnostic work-up, and to promote radiation-free techniques whenever possible. There are many causes of white hemithorax in children and it can be due to a variety of chest disorders. In most cases, plain chest radiographs and ultrasound will suffice. However, additional information provided by, e.g., CT or MRI is sometimes required.

Pathology of the thoracic wall: congenital and acquired.

This review aims to cover the main congenital and acquired lesions that arise in the thoracic wall of infants and children. Imaging often plays an essential role in the evaluation of symptomatic and asymptomatic thoracic wall abnormalities. The use of appropriate imaging modalities for each condition will be addressed, as well as the range of benign and malignant conditions that can occur.

Practical guide for pediatric pulmonologists on imaging management of pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 is rapidly evolving with new articles on the subject daily. This flood of articles can be overwhelming for busy practicing clinicians looking for key pieces of information that can be applied in daily practice. This review article synthesizes the reported imaging findings in pediatric Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the literature, offers imaging differential diagnostic considerations and useful radiographic features to help differentiate these entities from COVID-19, and provides recommendations for requesting imaging studies to evaluate suspected cases of pediatric COVID-19.

International Expert Consensus Statement on Chest Imaging in Pediatric COVID-19 Patient Management: Imaging Findings, Imaging Study Reporting, and Imaging Study Recommendations.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly spread since it was first detected in December 2019 and has evolved into a global pandemic with over 1.7 million confirmed cases in over 200 countries around the world at the time this document is being prepared. Owing to the novel nature of the virus and the rapidly evolving understanding of the disease, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 pneumonia in pediatric patients. Chest imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of pediatric patients with COVID-19; however, there is currently little information available describing imaging manifestations of COVID-19 in pediatric patients and even less information discussing the utilization of imaging studies in pediatric patients. To specifically address these concerns, a group of international experts in pediatric thoracic imaging from five continents convened to create a consensus statement describing the imaging manifestations of COVID-19 in the pediatric population, discussing the potential utility of structured reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic, and generating consensus recommendations for utilization of chest radiographs and CT in the evaluation of pediatric patients with COVID-19. The results were compiled into two structured reporting algorithms (one for chest radiographs and one for chest CT) and eight consensus recommendations for the utilization of chest imaging in pediatric COVID-19 infection. © RSNA, 2020.

Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Radiology Departments Around the World: WFPI COVID-19 Task Force Survey Results from 6 Continents.

PURPOSE: To investigate how COVID-19 has impacted pediatric radiology practice around the world at the present time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was based on a survey conducted by the World Federation of Pediatric Imaging (WFPI) COVID-19 task force. Pediatric radiology representatives from countries around the world were identified and asked to complete an electronic survey consisting of 17 questions related to the impact of, concerns surrounding, and education related to COVID-19 on pediatric radiology. For each outcome variable, a pair of 2-way frequency tables was constructed: one against COVID-19 prevalence, and another against region. Tests of independence of the tables' row and column factors were performed based on Fisher's exact test and odds ratios (OR) were estimated via logistic regression models corresponding to these 2-way tables. RESULTS: The survey (response rate 87%, 72/83) comprised representatives from 71 countries and Hong Kong across 6 continents. 66/72 respondents (92%) indicated that COVID-19 has resulted in moderate (21/72, 29%), significant (36/72, 50%), or complete (9/72, 13%) change in radiology departments/practices in their countries. The two most frequent concerns over the next four months were personal/family health (54/72, 75%) and exposure (48/72, 67%). 79% (57/72) of respondents indicated some level of discomfort in identifying pediatric COVID-19 imaging manifestations. Changes in resident education were reported by 68/72 (94%) respondents, and 22/72 (31%) were concerned that the likelihood of current trainees pursuing a career in pediatric radiology will be impacted. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has had a substantial negative impact on pediatric radiology practice around the world.

Evaluation of inter-observer variation for computed tomography identification of childhood interstitial lung disease.

Making chILD diagnoses on CT is poorly reproducible, even amongst sub-specialists. CT might best improve diagnostic confidence in a multidisciplinary team setting when augmented with clinical, functional and haematological results. http://bit.ly/327jRCw.

Hypertension and segmental renal infarction in children: apropos of two cases.

Segmental renal infarction (SRI) is a rare condition that causes renovascular hypertension (RVH), which accounts for 8-10% of all causes of pediatric hypertension. We report the clinical course of two children with idiopathic SRI who suffered severe arterial hypertension associated with hyponatremia. Hypertension was diagnosed during the study of hematuria in the first case and due to a hypertensive emergency in the second case. The etiology was found to be renovascular in both patients, involving the occlusion of small renal arteries and causing SRI. Our first patient was treated with partial nephrectomy, and the second patient was treated with antihypertensive medication given the impossibility of removing the infarcted renal area. The occlusion of small renal arteries is a rare disease of unknown origin in which the gold standard for diagnosis is selective renal arteriography. The definitive treatment is surgical segmentectomy. If segmentectomy is not feasible because of the localization of the infarcted area, as in our second patient, medical treatment is required. In view of the importance of RVH in children and the rareness of the particular etiology here reported (SRI), a review of the literature was done.

Intraosseous haemangioma of the ilium.

Intraosseous haemangioma, an uncommon benign vascular tumour, is most commonly seen in adults and tends to involve the vertebrae and the skull. Lesions of flat bones are rare and the imaging findings in these patients are non-specific. We report a unique case of intraosseous haemangioma in the ilium of a 7-year-old girl studied by US, radiography, scintigraphy, CT and MRI.

HRCT in children: technique and indications.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is a very important diagnostic tool, which improves our understanding of many lung diseases in children. However, the technique requires great care in managing the child and attention in using the lowest radiation dose possible. HRCT provides important diagnostic information on pediatric lung disorders for both airway and interstitial lung diseases. In this review we describe in detail the most appropriate technique to be used on children including patient preparation and sedation, discuss indications, and analyze the HRCT appearance of a variety of diseases.