Lung Ultrasound could be used as a safe and Effective Substitute for Chest X-Rays for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Children
|
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 26 Apr 2016 |
|
Image: Dr. James Tsung, MD, showcases a lung ultrasound display on a tablet (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai Hospital).
The results of a randomized controlled trial in the pediatric emergency department of a leading medical school in the US suggest that lung ultrasound is highly effective, and safe, for diagnosing pneumonia in children, and could potentially be used as a substitute for standard chest X-Ray exams.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide. While chest X-Rays exams are currently the standard choice for diagnosis, the WHO estimates that 75% of the world’s population does not have access to radiography.
The results of the study were published in the March, 2016 issue of the journal Chest. The study included 191 children aged 0 to 21 years. The children were randomly assigned to receive either a lung ultrasound and if necessary also a chest X-ray, and a control group that underwent a chest X-ray followed by a lung ultrasound. The study was conducted by researchers at the Mount Sinai hospital Icahn School of Medicine (ISMMS; New York, NK, USA).
The researchers found that 38.8% less chest X-Rays were performed in the group that underwent an initial ultrasound exam, compared to no reduction in the control group. No pneumonia cases were missed and there was no increase in any other adverse events. The replacement of X-Ray exams by ultrasound resulted in overall cost savings of USD 9,200, and reduced the time the children spent in the emergency ward by an average of 26 minutes. The results suggest that lung ultrasound could become the best option for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children, although further research is required.
Dr. Tsung, associate professor at Mount Sinai, and leader of the research team, said, “Ultrasound is portable, cost-saving and safer for children than an X-ray because it does not expose them to radiation. Our study could have a profound impact in the developing world where access to radiography is limited. In the era of precision medicine, lung ultrasound may also be an ideal imaging option in children who are at higher risk for radiation-induced cancers or have received multiple radiographic or CT imaging studies.
Related Links:
Mount Sinai hospital Icahn School of Medicine
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide. While chest X-Rays exams are currently the standard choice for diagnosis, the WHO estimates that 75% of the world’s population does not have access to radiography.
The results of the study were published in the March, 2016 issue of the journal Chest. The study included 191 children aged 0 to 21 years. The children were randomly assigned to receive either a lung ultrasound and if necessary also a chest X-ray, and a control group that underwent a chest X-ray followed by a lung ultrasound. The study was conducted by researchers at the Mount Sinai hospital Icahn School of Medicine (ISMMS; New York, NK, USA).
The researchers found that 38.8% less chest X-Rays were performed in the group that underwent an initial ultrasound exam, compared to no reduction in the control group. No pneumonia cases were missed and there was no increase in any other adverse events. The replacement of X-Ray exams by ultrasound resulted in overall cost savings of USD 9,200, and reduced the time the children spent in the emergency ward by an average of 26 minutes. The results suggest that lung ultrasound could become the best option for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children, although further research is required.
Dr. Tsung, associate professor at Mount Sinai, and leader of the research team, said, “Ultrasound is portable, cost-saving and safer for children than an X-ray because it does not expose them to radiation. Our study could have a profound impact in the developing world where access to radiography is limited. In the era of precision medicine, lung ultrasound may also be an ideal imaging option in children who are at higher risk for radiation-induced cancers or have received multiple radiographic or CT imaging studies.
Related Links:
Mount Sinai hospital Icahn School of Medicine
X-Ray Illuminator
X-Ray Viewbox Illuminators
Adjustable Mobile Barrier
M-458
Half Apron
Demi
Post-Processing Imaging System
DynaCAD Prostate
Latest Ultrasound News
- AI Robotic Ultrasound System Automates Echocardiography and Improves Consistency
- Whole Cross-Section Ultrasound System Enables Operator-Independent Imaging
- New Ultrasound AI Tool Supports Rapid Prenatal Assessment
- New Consensus Standardizes Ultrasound-Based Fatty Liver Assessment
- Groundbreaking Technology to Enhance Precision in Emergency and Critical Care
- Reusable Gel Pad Made from Tamarind Seed Could Transform Ultrasound Examinations
- AI Model Accurately Detects Placenta Accreta in Pregnancy Before Delivery
- Portable Ultrasound Sensor to Enable Earlier Breast Cancer Detection
- Portable Imaging Scanner to Diagnose Lymphatic Disease in Real Time
- Imaging Technique Generates Simultaneous 3D Color Images of Soft-Tissue Structure and Vasculature
- Wearable Ultrasound Imaging System to Enable Real-Time Disease Monitoring
- Ultrasound Technique Visualizes Deep Blood Vessels in 3D Without Contrast Agents
- Ultrasound Probe Images Entire Organ in 4D
- Disposable Ultrasound Patch Performs Better Than Existing Devices
- Non-Invasive Ultrasound-Based Tool Accurately Detects Infant Meningitis
- Breakthrough Deep Learning Model Enhances Handheld 3D Medical Imaging
Channels
Radiography
view channel
Simple Chest X-Ray Measure Predicts Survival After Lung Cancer Surgery
Obstructive ventilatory disorder, marked by airflow limitation that reduces breathing efficiency, increases postoperative risk in patients with lung cancer. Although surgery offers the best chance of cure,... Read more
AI Detection Tool Improves Identification of Lobular Breast Cancer
Breast cancer screening seeks early detection, yet some subtypes remain difficult to visualize on mammography, risking delayed diagnosis. On average, 1 in 20 women worldwide will develop breast cancer,... Read more
MRI
view channel
Cardiac MRI Measure Improves Risk Prediction in Tricuspid Regurgitation
Tricuspid regurgitation, in which blood flows back from the right ventricle into the right atrium, can lead to progressive right-sided heart failure. Clinicians need reliable ways to gauge severity and... Read more
AI System Improves Accuracy of Cardiac MRI Interpretation
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the reference standard for assessing cardiac structure, function, and tissue health. Yet each exam can contain hundreds to thousands of images across multiple... Read more
Nuclear Medicine
view channel
MR-Guided Cardiac Mapping System Enables Radiation-Free Procedures
Cardiac electrophysiology procedures are typically guided by X-ray fluoroscopy, which limits soft-tissue visualization and exposes patients and clinical staff to ionizing radiation. Real-time mapping that... Read more
PET Tracer Enables Noninvasive Measurement of Beta Cell Mass
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Loss of these cells destabilizes glucose control and drives complications.... Read more
New Imaging Tool Sheds Light on Tumor Fat Metabolism
Rapidly growing tumors reprogram metabolism to meet high energy demands. While many cancers preferentially consume glucose, lipid utilization by malignant cells is difficult to measure in living subjects.... Read more
Radiopharmaceutical Molecule Marker to Improve Choice of Bladder Cancer Therapies
Targeted cancer therapies only work when tumor cells express the specific molecular structures they are designed to attack. In urothelial carcinoma, a common form of bladder cancer, the cell surface protein... Read moreGeneral/Advanced Imaging
view channel
Multimodal AI Tool Combines CT and Health Records to Predict Heart Risk
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death and an underrecognized risk for people treated for breast cancer. Cardiac complications can affect survival and quality of life. Clinicians need tools... Read more
AI Tool Automates Radiotherapy Planning for Cervical and Prostate Cancer
Cervical cancer causes most of its global mortality in low- and middle-income countries, where radiotherapy capacity and specialist staff are limited. Treatment planning is labor-intensive and can delay... Read more
Imaging IT
view channel
Interactive AI Tool Supports Explainable Lung Nodule Assessment
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality, and timely characterization of pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography (CT) is essential for directing care. Interpreting nodule morphology demands... Read more
Breast Imaging Software Enhances Visualization and Tissue Characterization in Challenging Cases
Breast imaging can be particularly challenging in cases involving small breasts or implants, where image reconstruction and tissue characterization may be limited. Clinicians also need reproducible analysis... Read more
New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible
Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more
Global AI in Medical Diagnostics Market to Be Driven by Demand for Image Recognition in Radiology
The global artificial intelligence (AI) in medical diagnostics market is expanding with early disease detection being one of its key applications and image recognition becoming a compelling consumer proposition... Read moreIndustry News
view channel
GE HealthCare Highlights AI-Supported Radiation Therapy Tools at ESTRO 2026
At the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 2026 Congress in Stockholm, GE HealthCare is highlighting Intelligent Radiation Therapy (iRT), MIM Software innovations, and BK Medical surgical... Read more
