title: The value of ultrafast computed tomography in the investigation of pediatric chest disease.
abstract: Ultrafast computed tomography (CT) can be performed in almost all children with little or no sedation. The benefit has to be balanced against financial cost and radiation dose. Since observing a steady increase in numbers of scans performed, we analyzed the contribution to management of 106 pediatric chest CT scans performed over a 12-month period. Forty-eight of 106 yielded a positive diagnosis and a further 43/106 provided clearly useful information. CT was most useful in children with chronic productive cough (21/48 scans showed bronchiectasis) and suspected interstitial lung disease. It was least useful in the preoperative assessment of empyema complicating community-acquired pneumonia (0/11 scans giving information that changed management). We conclude that the increased ease of performance of chest CT in children has not led to a large number of inappropriate requests. In the large majority of cases, diagnostically useful information was provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Coren
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed