Ultrasonographic features and significance of scoring of lung in preterm infants / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe ultrasonographic features and significance of scoring of the lung in preterm infants.Methods Totally 37 preterm infants (preterm group) and 33 term infants (term group) without cardiopulmonary disease nor hypoproteinemia were enrolled,and infants in each group were divided into＜1 week,1-4 weeks and ＞4 weeks subgroup,respectively.All the infants underwent lung ultrasonography and scoring.The ultrasonography scores were compared between preterm infants and term infants among different ages.Results The main ultrasonic manifestations of the lung in preterm infants were diffuse distribution of dense B-lines,with or without " falls sign" suggesting alveolar effusion.The ultrasonographic score of the lung in preterm infants and term infants was (15.24± 2.76) and (12.21 ±3.62),respectively (t=3.962,P＜0.001).There was no statistical difference of ultrasonographyic scores in ＜1 week subgroups between preterm infants and term infants (t =-0.669,P =0.513).There were statistical differences of ultrasonographic scores in 1-4 weeks subgroups and ＞4 weeks subgroups between preterm group and term group (both P＜0.05).In preterm group,the ultrasonographic scores demonstrated no statistical difference among 3 subgroups (F=0.960,P=0.393),whereas statistical difference was found among 3 subgroups in term group (F =4.277,P =0.023).The ultrasonographic score of preterm infants showed negative correlation with gestational age (r=-0.352,P=0.033),and the linear regressive equation was Y=33.805-0.548X.Conclusion The main ultrasonic manifestations of the lung in preterm infants were diffuse distribution of dense B-lines,some with "falls sign" suggesting alveolar effusion,which are more significant in smaller gestational age infants.