Clinical outcomes and antibody transfer in a cohort of infants with in utero or perinatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (Coronascope Study).

We aimed to describe the outcomes, focusing on the hearing and neurological development, of infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy and to evaluate the persistence of maternal antibodies in the first months of life. An observational, prospective study at a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain) on infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy between March and September 2020 was conducted. A follow-up visit at 1-3 months of age with a physical and neurological examination, cranial ultrasound (cUS), SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swab, and SARS-CoV-2 serology were performed. Hearing was evaluated at birth through the automated auditory brainstem response and at six months of age through the auditory steady-state response. A neurodevelopmental examination using the Bayley-III scale was performed at 12 months of age. Of 95 infants studied, neurological examination was normal in all of them at the follow-up visit, as was the cUS in 81/85 (95%) infants, with only mild abnormalities in four of them. Serology was positive in 47/95 (50%) infants, which was not associated with symptoms or severity of maternal infection. No hearing loss was detected, and neurodevelopment was normal in 96% of the infants (median Z score: 0). CONCLUSION: In this cohort, the majority of infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy were healthy infants with a normal cUS, no hearing loss, and normal neurodevelopment in the first year of life. Only half of the infants had a positive serological result during the follow-up. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Hearing loss and neurodevelopmental delay in infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy has been suggested, although data is inconsistent. Maternal antibody transfer seems to be high, with a rapid decrease during the first weeks of life. WHAT IS NEW: • Most infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy had normal hearing screening, cranial ultrasound, and neurodevelopmental status at 12 months of life. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were only detected in 50% of the infants at two months of life.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Children With Nonsevere Tuberculosis in Spain.

BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence and characteristics of nonsevere TB among children in Spain. It has been recently demonstrated that these children can be treated with a 4-month regimen instead of the classical 6-month treatment regimen, with the same effectivity and outcomes, decreasing toxicity and improving adherence. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a cohort of children ≤16 years of age with TB. Nonsevere TB cases included smear-negative children with respiratory TB confined to 1 lobe, with no significant airway obstruction, no complex pleural effusion, no cavities and no signs of miliary disease, or with peripheral lymph-node disease. The remaining children were considered to have severe TB. We estimated the prevalence of nonsevere TB and compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes between children with nonsevere and severe TB. RESULTS: A total of 780 patients were included [46.9% males, median age 5.5 years (IQR: 2.6-11.1)], 477 (61.1%) of whom had nonsevere TB. Nonsevere TB was less frequent in children <1 year (33% vs 67%; P < 0.001), and >14 years of age (35% vs 65%; P = 0.002), mostly diagnosed in contact tracing studies (60.4% vs 29.2%; P < 0.001) and more frequently asymptomatic (38.3% vs 17.7%; P < 0.001). TB confirmation in nonsevere disease was less frequent by culture (27.0% vs 57.1%; P < 0.001) and by molecular tests (18.2% vs 48.8%; P < 0.001). Sequelae were less frequent in children with nonsevere disease (1.7 vs 5.4%; P < 0.001). No child with nonsevere disease died. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of children had nonsevere TB, mostly with benign clinical presentation and negative microbiologic results. In low-burden countries, most children with TB might benefit from short-course regimens.

¿Parótida crujiente? / Crackling parotid gland?

La neumoparótida consiste en la presencia de aire en la glándula parótida. Es una entidad rara que se origina secundariamente a un incremento importante de la presión intraoral. Puede ocurrir en relación con actividades cotidianas, como tocar instrumentos de viento, hinchar globos, procedimientos dentales o maniobras de Valsalva. Es una entidad rara, pero debe incluirse en el diagnóstico diferencial ante un aumento o inflamación de la glándula parótida. Para su diagnóstico son claves una anamnesis y un examen físico detallado. El manejo va a ser habitualmente conservador y el curso autolimitado, con tratamiento sintomático si es preciso (analgesia y antiinflamatorios). Se puede considerar el uso de antibióticos para evitar sobreinfecciones (neumoparotiditis). Los casos graves o recurrentes pueden precisar manejo quirúrgico mediante escisión de la glándula. (AU)

Pneumoparotid is the presence of air in the parotid gland. It is a rare condition that is secondary to a significant increase in intraoral pressure. It may develop in relation to everyday activities, such as playing wind instruments, blowing up balloons, dental procedures or Valsalva manoeuvres. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of inflammation of the parotid gland. A detailed history-taking and physical examination are the key to its diagnosis. Management is usually conservative and the disease self-limiting, with symptomatic treatment if necessary (analgesia and anti-inflammatory drugs). Antibiotics may be considered to avoid superinfection (pneumoparotitis). Severe or recurrent cases may require surgical management with excision of the gland. (AU)

Estimation of gestational age in neonates using clavicular-pubis length on routine chest-abdomen radiographs.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal diseases differ depending on gestational age and weight. In the setting of an emergency in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), relevant clinical information is often not available when the first neonatal radiograph is obtained. When reading an initial chest-abdomen radiograph, the paediatric radiologist needs gestational age data for best radiologic practice. A transverse diameter of the chest has been previously described to estimate gestational age (GA). OBJECTIVES: To determine the strength of the correlation between GA/weight and clavicular-pubis length (CPL) on admission radiographs; to obtain a quadratic formula based on the correlation of CPL with GA and to demonstrate if a more simplified formula used by our group works as efficiently as the formula provided by the regression analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board and informed consent was waived. The length from the medial aspect of the clavicle to the pubic bone was measured on the initial portable chest-abdomen radiographs of 260 patients admitted to the NICU in 2016. Regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between CPL and GA/birth weight. RESULTS: One hundred eleven females and 149 males with GA between 23 and 42 weeks were evaluated. CPL was statistically associated with both GA (P<0,01) and birth weight. The estimation can be expressed with an equation of the model: GA (weeks) = (CPL in cm - 1.98)/0.42. A simplified formula: GA (weeks) = (CPL in cm) ×2+2, strongly correlates with the equation model. CONCLUSION: In patients in whom it is not known, GA can be estimated by measuring the length between medial clavicle and symphysis pubis using the formulae we propose.

Quiste de colédoco: nunca bajar la guardia / Choledocal cyst: never let your guard down

El quiste del colédoco es una dilatación congénita de la vía biliar. La presentación clínica es inespecífica y a menudo supone un dilema diagnóstico. Se debe tener un elevado índice de sospecha ante casos de ictericia, dolor abdominal y masa abdominal palpable. Para su diagnóstico es fundamental un estudio de imagen, siendo el indicado de forma inicial la ecografía. Pueden presentar múltiples complicaciones, incluyendo colangitis, pancreatitis, colangiocarcinoma, cirrosis biliar y hepática. Para su manejo se recomienda la resección del quiste, para evitar complicaciones y disminuir el riesgo de malignización. Se recomienda un seguimiento a largo plazo, con ecografías y análisis anuales, dado que el riesgo de malignización se mantiene elevado incluso tras la escisión del quiste. El abordaje óptimo de esta patología requiere un enfoque multidisciplinar, desde la sospecha diagnóstica que a menudo procederá de los servicios de Atención Primaria, incluyendo también gastroenterólogos, cirujanos, patólogos y radiólogos (AU)

Bile duct cyst is a congenital dilation of the bile duct. Clinical presentation is non-specific and often poses a diagnostic dilemma. It should be highly suspected in cases of jaundice, abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. An imaging study is essential for diagnosis, an ultrasound being the most suitable initially. It can present multiple complications, including cholangitis, pancreatitis, cholangiocarcinoma, biliary and hepatic cirrhosis. For its management, resection of the cyst is recommended to avoid complications and reduce the risk of malignancy. Long-term follow-up with annual ultrasound scans and tests is recommended, as the risk of malignancy remains high even after excision of the cyst. The optimal approach to this pathology requires a multidisciplinary perspective, starting from the diagnostic suspicion that will often come from Primary Care services, and including also gastroenterologists, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists (AU)

Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography part 2: urethral imaging.

Ultrasound (US) has been increasingly used as an important imaging tool to assess the urethra in children. The earliest reports of pediatric urethral sonography involved imaging the urethra in a non-voiding state, during physiological voiding of urine, and after instillation of saline. The introduction of US contrast agents has continued to improve visualization of urethral anatomy. Contrast-enhanced US of the urethra can be performed during the voiding phase of a standard contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (ceVUS) exam or with retrograde instillation of a contrast agent, depending on the exam indication. Both techniques are well tolerated by children and provide accurate information about urethral pathology and periurethral soft tissues. This article reviews the technical aspects and imaging findings of urethral pathologies in children using contrast-enhanced US, both by the voiding and retrograde instillation techniques.

Síndrome de Joubert / Joubert syndrome

El síndrome de Joubert es una enfermedad multisistémica poco frecuente. Se caracteriza por una malformación congénita del tronco cerebral e hipoplasia del vermis cerebeloso. Estas alteraciones provocan, entre otros, problemas respiratorios, hipotonía y retraso del desarrollo psicomotor. Puede asociar alteraciones a nivel renal, hepático u ocular, entre otros. No existe un tratamiento curativo de la enfermedad; por ello es importante un diagnóstico precoz, para ofrecer un seguimiento multidisciplinar y así poder mejorar el pronóstico y la calidad de vida de los pacientes y sus familias. (AU)

Joubert syndrome is a rare neurological disorder. It is characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of the cerebellar vermis and a malformed brain stem. These abnormalities cause signs and symptoms that include abnormal breathing patterns, hypotonia and development delay. It may associate kidney, liver or eye abnormalities. Treatment is supportive and depends on the symptoms in each person. This is why early diagnosis is so important, to offer a multidisciplinary strategy for improving the prognosis and quality of life. (AU)

Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography, part 1: vesicoureteral reflux evaluation.

Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (ceVUS) is a well-established, sensitive and safe ultrasound (US) modality for detecting and grading vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and urethral imaging in children. Nearly three decades of remarkable advances in US technology and US contrast agents have refined ceVUS's diagnostic potential. The recent approval of Lumason/SonoVue in the United States, Europe and China for pediatric intravesical applications marked the beginning of a new era for this type of contrast US imaging. Consequently, the use of ceVUS in children has expanded to multiple places around the globe. In the first part of this review article, we describe the current experience in the use of ceVUS for VUR evaluation, with an emphasis on historical background, examination technique, image interpretation and diagnostic accuracy. In the second part, we will present the role of ceVUS for urethral imaging in children.

Hepatopatía tras la cirugía de Fontan / Liver disease after Fontan procedure

La enfermedad hepática relacionada con cirugía de Fontan es la afectación estructural y funcional del hígado tras realizar una cirugía de Fontan. Como en otras hepatopatías, el curso puede ser progresivo, y abocar potencialmente a la aparición de complicaciones, algunas de ellas importantes, como cirrosis, ascitis, varices esofágicas o encefalopatía. Su origen no es inflamatorio, sino congestivo. Entre las pruebas complementarias, destacan la ecografía Doppler, la elastografía y la biopsia hepática. Su tratamiento es multidisciplinar e incluye optimizar la función cardiaca, prevención y manejo de las complicaciones hepáticas y prevención del hígado graso

Liver disease related to Fontan's surgery is a structural and functional liver disease after performing the Fontan procedure. As in other liver diseases, the course can be progressive, potentially leading to the appearance of complications, such as cirrhosis, ascites, esophageal varices or encephalopathy. Its origin is not inflammatory, but congestive. Among the complementary tests, the Doppler ultrasound, elastography and liver biopsy stand out. Its treatment is multidisciplinary, and includes optimizing cardiac function, prevention and management of liver complications, and prevention of fatty liver disease

Calcificaciones hepáticas múltiples. Revisión a propósito de dos casos / Multiple hepatic calcifications. Review on two cases

La presencia de calcificaciones hepáticas fetales puede ser advertida durante el seguimiento ecográfico gestacional. Pueden ser únicas o múltiples, y estar asociadas o no a problemas tales como infecciones connatales o cromosomopatías. Aquellas lesiones aisladas, sin otras alteraciones asociadas, tienen buen pronóstico y cursan en la mayoría de las ocasiones de forma asintomática. Comunicamos dos casos clínicos de pacientes con calcificaciones hepáticas congénitas múltiples. Se revisa el manejo y el pronóstico de esta patología

Fetal hepatic calcifications may be noticed during gestational ultrasound follow-up. They may be unique or multiple, and may be associated with or without problems such as chromosomopaties or prenatal infections. Isolated lesions have a good prognosis and are most often asymptomatic. We communicate two clinical cases of patients with multiple congenital hepatic calcifications. The management and prognosis of this pathology is reviewed

Wandering spleen torsion-use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

We report a case of torsion of a wandering spleen in an 18-year-old male patient who presented with acute abdominal pain and left lower quadrant mass. The patient was initially misdiagnosed at another institution. The patient came to our hospital for further investigation. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed and showed a solid hypoechoic avascular mass, which was all that remained of the spleen, located under the left kidney. Based on the ultrasound findings, CT scan and MRI of the abdomen were performed to confirm the suspicion of torsion of a wandering spleen. To the best of our knowledge, there are no case reports describing the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for diagnosing torsion of a wandering spleen.

Prenatal MRI evaluation of limb-body wall complex.

BACKGROUND: The sonographic (US) features of limb-body wall complex have been well documented; however the literature regarding the findings on MRI in limb-body wall complex is scant. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the prenatal MRI features of limb-body wall complex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all MRI scans of fetuses diagnosed with limb-body wall complex at our institution from 2001 to 2011. Fetuses without correlating US scans or follow-up information were excluded. Three pediatric radiologists blinded to the specific US findings reviewed the prenatal MRIs. Images were evaluated for the organ location and attachment, the body part affected, characterization of the body wall defect, and spinal, limb and umbilical cord abnormalities. RESULTS: Ten subjects met inclusion criteria. MRI was able to detect and characterize the body part affected and associated abnormalities. All fetuses had ventral wall defects, a small thorax and herniated liver and bowel. The kidneys were extracorporeal in three cases. The extruded organs were attached to the placenta or the uterine wall in all cases. Abnormal spinal curvatures of various degrees of severity were present in all cases. Eight cases had a short, uncoiled cord. Limb anomalies were present in 6 of the 10 cases. CONCLUSION: We illustrate the common fetal MRI findings of limb-body wall complex. The prenatal diagnosis of limb-body wall complex and the differentiation of this defect from treatable abdominal wall defects are crucial to providing appropriate guidance for patient counseling and management.