Analysis of ultrasonographic features of pulmonary ultrasound in children′s community acquired pneu-monia / 中国小儿急救医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the lung ultrasonography characteristics of community acquired pneumonia ( CAP) in children and to compare the value of lung ultrasonography in the diagnosis of CAP in children. Methods A total of 173 patients with CAP ( CAP group) were diagnosed by chest radiograph in our hospital,and 64 healthy children were treated with lung ultrasonography as the control group. The sono-graphic features of two groups were compared,and the positive rates of diagnosis of lung ultrasonography and chest radiograph in CAP group were also compared. Results It showed A-line disappearance ( 100%) , B-line presence ( 88. 4%) , pleural line abnormalities ( 98. 3%) , pulmonary consolidation ( 46. 2%) , bronchial sign(42. 8%),pleural effusion(9. 2%),lung sliding signs(97. 7%) in CAP group (P<0. 001). In the con-trol group,except the A-line disappearance,scattered in the B-line (34. 4%),the others were not present. The difference of the two groups was statistically significant (P<0. 001). A-line disappearance,B-line (or even fusion) ,pleural line abnormalities were the main signs of ultrasound in children with CAP, sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. The sensitivity of chest X radiograph was 100% and the specificity was 78. 0%. Conclusion The lung ultrasonic imaging features of CAP in children include A-line disappearance, with varying numbers and lengths of B-line, pleural line abnormalities, consolidation, bronchial signs, pleural effusion and so on. LUS can diagnose CAP accurately and reliably,with high sensitivity and specificity. It is simple and noninvasive, and has the advantage of being detected at any time and avoiding the damage of X-ray. So it is worth clinical application for children with respiratory tract diseases.