Pediatric Lung Abscess

Abstract

The diagnosis of lung abscess can be difficult to make and often requires imaging beyond plain chest x-ray. The decision to further image with computed tomography should be weighed against the risks of radiation exposure, especially in pediatric patients. In addition, the cost and potential impact on length of stay from obtaining computed tomography scans should be considered. In this report, we describe a case of lung abscess made immediately using point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency department. To our knowledge, there are no previous cases describing lung abscess diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound. This case report aims to describe a case of pediatric lung abscess, review the ultrasound findings, and discuss relevant literature on the topic.

Point-of-care ultrasound in early diagnosis and monitoring of deep abscess in newborns: a case report of two cases

“…Lung ultrasound has certain advantages in the examination of various lung diseases ( 27 ). Clara Kraft et al ( 28 ) reported a case of pediatric pulmonary abscess, which also showed elliptical consolidation on ultrasound, with a surrounding hyperechoic capsule. In addition, some authors suggest that further identification of the presence of pneumothorax is necessary when a lung abscess is discovered.…”

Point-of-Care Thoracic Ultrasound in Children: New Advances in Pediatric Emergency Setting

“…Recently, lung ultrasound has demonstrated its role in the diagnosis of this condition. On ultrasound, the abscess is seen as a well-demarcated capsular structure surrounding a hypoechoic core non-vascularized and follows its evolution over time [41] (Figure 4). In this way, additional investigations, such as computed tomography (CT), can be avoided with significant radiation protection benefits, especially in the pediatric age group.…”