title: Diagnostic performance of multidetector computed tomography for foreign body aspiration in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sensitivity of multidetector computed tomography for confirming suspected foreign body aspiration into the airways in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multicentre prospective study of 303 children evaluated using multidetector computed tomography with axial analysis complemented by multiplanar reconstruction when required. The images were read by a radiologist before endoscopy then reviewed later by a senior radiologist blinded to the endoscopy findings. Endoscopy was performed routinely.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Foreign bodies were found by endoscopy in 70 of the 303 children. The initial multidetector computed tomography reading was 94% sensitive and 95% specific. For the review, the images for 91 patients were excluded because of motion blurring or absence of larynx visualisation; in the remaining 212 patients, sensitivity was 98% and specificity 97%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multidetector computed tomography as performed in our patients cannot replace endoscopy, which remains the reference standard. Nevertheless, multidetector computed tomography is sufficiently sensitive to be of value when foreign body aspiration is not considered initially or when endoscopy is likely to prove challenging.
authors.affiliation: APHP, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paediatric ENT Department, 75015 Paris, France. yves.manach@nck.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manach
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pierrot
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Couloigner
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayari-Khalfallah
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicollas
authors.forename: Fredéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Venail
authors.forename: Soizick
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pondaven
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baculard
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tantcheu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001980:Bronchi; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007830:Larynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*