Ultrasonography of the Lungs and Pleurae for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Children

Agreement Between the World Health Organization Algorithm and Lung Consolidation Identified Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Childhood Pneumonia by General Practitioners

“…Furthermore, Coppeti et al found that the diagnosis of pneumonia by lung ultrasound had a good correlation with diagnosis by CXR, and that it was able to identify seven patients that had the pneumonia confirmed by chest CT scan or longitudinal clinical evaluation that was not identify by CXR [19]. These studies support the high accuracy of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of pneumonia, indicating its potential to be used as an alternative diagnostic tool in clinical practice, and the potential to answer other important clinical questions like the presence of pleural effusion and need of drainage [42]. The central goal of a case management algorithm is to identify children who need urgent treatment with antibiotics and its complications such as sepsis and empyema.…”

Lung Ultrasound in Community-Acquired Pneumonia and in Interstitial Lung Diseases

“…It will not completely replace chest radiography, but with increasing use and experience by ultrasonographers combined with improvements in LUS techniques, it has the potential to establish as a very important diagnostic imaging option for pneumonia, especially in children [28]. …”

Intravenous and Intracavitary Use of Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound in the Evaluation and Management of Complicated Pediatric Pneumonia

“…Indeed, US is superior to CT in showing fibrin strands within pleural fluid, an important consideration when contemplating drainage and intrapleural fibrinolysis . Ultrasonography allows timely assessment, often at the bedside, is widely available, and is safely repeatable . The increased cancer risk from cumulative CT is a pertinent disincentive for CT scanning in children, and US should be preferred.…”