Ultrasound quarterly
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Ultrasound quarterly · Mar 2018
Meta AnalysisIs Lung Ultrasound Useful for Diagnosing Pneumonia in Children?: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.
Childhood mortality due to pneumonia is high. Chest radiography is the primary imaging modality used for the evaluation of pneumonia in children. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is a newer, alternative diagnostic method that has been gaining popularity in recent years. We conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the diagnostic usefulness of LUS for childhood pneumonia. ⋯ Current evidence supports LUS as a useful imaging alternative for the diagnosis of childhood pneumonia. That it is easily carried out, readily available, relatively inexpensive, and free from the hazards of radiation make it an attractive alternative to chest radiography and physical examination for the diagnosis and the follow-up of pneumonia in children.