title: Radiologic evaluation of the nontraumatized child with respiratory distress.
abstract: The radiologic examination of the chest is an essential part of the evaluation of the pediatric patient presenting to the emergency room with respiratory distress. In many cases the chest radiograph will be diagnostic of a specific cause for  the distressful symptom. Opaque foreign bodies are readily visualized in the tracheobronchial tree. The presence of massive atelectasis or severe obstructive emphasema may be visualized. Large pleural fluid collections or tension pneumothoraces can be localized and immediately treated by proper drainage. The presence of pneumonia, acute pulmonary edema, and pulmonary hemorrhage may be identified. Complications associated with bronchial asthma (pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and atelectasis) may be manifested radiographically before clinical signs are obvious. Lung compression by large mediastinal tumors and delayed congenital hernias may be readily demonstrated by chest radiography.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001980:Bronchi; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004630:Emergencies; D004646:Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology