SONOGRAPHY OF CHEST IN DIAGNOSIS OF PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN IN COMPARISON WITH CHEST X-RAY

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia is one of the most common infectious disease in children. Chest x-ray is the most common investigation ordered in diagnosis of pneumonia. Ultrasound is non-ionizing and safe. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of Lung ultrasound with chest x-ray in diagnosis of pneumonia in children.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of Lung ultrasound with chest x-ray in diagnosis of pneumonia in children

Methods: 120 cases with clinical diagnosis of pneumonia and admitted in pediatric medical ward, mayo hospital from 2015 June to 2016 June were included in this study. chest x-ray and ultrasound were performed by two different radiologists in selected cases.
Results: Out of 120 cases, chest x-ray was positive in 115 cases, and lung ultrasound was positive in 117 cases. Out of 5 cases negative in x-ray, 4 cases were positive in ultrasound and out of three negative casesin ultrasound, two were positive in x-ray. One case was not positive in x-ray as well as in ultrasound. The sensitivity and specificity of lung ultrasound was 98.2% and 20.0%. The positive rates of the air bronchograms, fluid bronchograms, pleural effusion, comet-tail sign and color flow within the consolidation were 107(91.4%), 79(67.5%), 57(66.9%), 42(35.8%)and 39(33.3%) respectively.

Conclusion: Lung ultrasound could be considered as an alternative to chest x-ray in diagnosis of pneumonia in children.