Diagnostic value of lung ultrasonography compared with chest radiography among children with pneumonia in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt

Abstract

Abstract Background: Pneumonia is an acute inflammatory condition affecting the lung alveoli. The current gold standard for diagnosis pneumonia in children is chest radiography (CXR). Lung ultrasound scan (LUS) may be used as a safer diagnostic alternative since it does not use ionizing radiation. Aim: The study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of LUS compared with CXR among children with pneumonia. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective cross-sectional study among 100 patients aged between 0 and 5 years, diagnosed with pneumonia. The spectrums of LUS findings were compared with chest radiographic findings of the same patients to ascertain the diagnostic value LUS. The LUS was performed using a 3.5–5.0 MHz convex probe and a high-frequency (7.5–10.0 MHz) linear transducer fitted to a Logic PRO 6.0, general electric ultrasound machine. Results: The mean age of the participants was 17.6 (±12.4) months with males and females accounting for 60% and 40%, respectively. CXR and LUS detected pneumonia in 78% and 93% of patients respectively (P = 0.002). In LUS, the most common findings were subpleural consolidation (73.0%), and pleural-line distortions (66%), while the commonest CXR findings were interstitial opacities (69%), and homogeneous consolidations (37%). The sensitivity and specificity of LUS in this study are 96.2% and 18.2%, respectively, with positive and negative predictive values of 80.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Conclusion: LUS had a higher positive detection rate than CXR. Its high sensitivity, lack of ionizing radiation, and portability make it a useful first-line imaging modality in the diagnosis and manage pneumonia.