ABSTRACT
La radiografía de tórax sigue siendo fundamental para la evaluación de patologías torácicas en lactantes. Antes de iniciar su interpretación, muchos autores sugieren revisar la técnica radiológica, ya que a esta edad se presentan varias particularidades técnicas que deben tenerse en cuenta para evitar errores interpretativos y no confundir hallazgos técnicos con patologías. Entre estas particularidades técnicas se deben evaluar: el centraje transversal o rotación, el centraje longitudinal o posición lordótica, el grado de inspiración, la posición de la vía aérea superior, la penetración o exposición de la radiografía, tipos de proyecciones y el movimiento. El objetivo de esta revisión es comentar y ejemplificar las peculiaridades técnicas que presenta la radiografía de tórax en lactantes y que pueden llevar a interpretaciones erróneas.
The chest X-ray remains essential for evaluating thoracic pathology in infants. Before beginning its interpretation, many authors recommend assessing the radiographic technique, as several technical peculiarities must be considered at this age to avoid interpretive errors and prevent mistaking technical artifacts for pathology. The technical aspects to be evaluated include transverse centering or rotation, longitudinal centering or lordotic position, degree of inspiration, upper airway positioning, radiograph penetration or exposure, projection types, and movement. The objective of this review is to discuss and illustrate the technical peculiarities of infant chest X-rays that can lead to erroneous interpretations.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Thoracic Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Radiography, Thoracic , Diagnostic Errors , Rotation , Patient PositioningABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which resulted in the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020, has particularly affected Latin America. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to analyze the imaging findings of pulmonary COVID-19 in a large pediatric series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by either quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from nasopharyngeal swabs or presence of circulating immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies and who underwent chest radiograph or CT or both were included in this retrospective multicenter study. Three pediatric radiologists independently reviewed radiographs and CTs to identify the presence, localization, distribution and extension of pulmonary lesions. RESULTS: We included 140 children (71 female; median age 6.3 years, interquartile range 1.6-12.1 years) in the study. Peribronchial thickening (93%), ground-glass opacities (79%) and vascular engorgement (63%) were the most frequent findings on 131 radiographs. Ground-glass opacities (91%), vascular engorgement (84%) and peribronchial thickening (72%) were the most frequent findings on 32 CTs. Peribronchial thickening (100%), ground-glass opacities (83%) and pulmonary vascular engorgement (79%) were common radiograph findings in asymptomatic children (n=25). Ground-glass opacity and consolidation were significantly higher in children who needed intensive care admission or died (92% and 48%), in contrast with children with a favorable outcome (71% and 24%, respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic children and those with mild symptoms of COVID-19 showed mainly peribronchial thickening, ground-glass opacities and pulmonary vascular engorgement on radiographs. Ground-glass opacity and consolidation were more common in children who required intensive care admission or died.