Summary. Background: The diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is based mainly on the patient's medical history and physical examination. However, in severe cases a further evaluation including chest X-ray (CXR) may be necessary. At present, lung ultrasound (LUS) is not included in the diagnostic work-up of pneumonia. Aim: To describe the ultrasonographic appearance of CAP at presentation and during the follow-up. Methods: A total of 102 patients with clinical signs and symptoms suggesting pneumonia, who underwent a clinically driven CXR, were evaluated by LUS on the same day. LUS signs of pneumonia included subpleural lung consolidation, B-lines, pleural line abnormalities, and pleural effusion. The diagnostic gold standard was the ex-post diagnosis of pneumonia made by two independent experienced pediatricians on the basis of clinical presentation, CXR and clinical course following British Thoracic Guidelines recommendations. Results: A final diagnosis of pneumonia was confirmed in 89/102 patients. LUS was positive for the diagnosis of pneumonia in 88/89 patients, whereas CXR was positive in 81/89. Only one patient with normal LUS examination had an abnormal CXR, whereas 8 patients with normal CXR had an abnormal LUS. LUS was able to detect pleural effusion resulting from complicated pneumonia in 16 cases, whereas CXR detected pleural effusion in 3 cases. Conclusions: LUS is a simple and reliable imaging tool, not inferior to CXR in identifying pleuro-pulmonary alterations in children with suspected pneumonia. During the course of the disease, LUS allows a radiation-free follow-up of these abnormalities.

The diagnosis of bronchiolitis is based mainly on the patient's medical history and physical examination. However, in severe cases, a further evaluation including chest X-ray (CXR) may be necessary. At present, lung ultrasound (LUS) is not included in the diagnostic work-up of bronchiolitis. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of LUS and CXR in children with bronchiolitis, and to evaluate the correlation between clinical and ultrasound findings. Only patients with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis, who had undergone a CXR, were enrolled in the study. Fifty-two infants underwent LUS and CXR. LUS was also performed in 52 infants without clinical signs of bronchiolitis. LUS was positive for the diagnosis of bronchiolitis in 47/52 patients, whereas CXR was positive in 38/52. All patients with normal LUS examination had a normal CXR, whereas nine patients with normal CXR had abnormal LUS. In these patients, the clinical course was consistent with bronchiolitis. We found that LUS is a simple and reliable tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of bronchiolitis. It is more reliable than CXR, can be easily repeated at the patient's bedside, and carries no risk of irradiation. In some patients with bronchiolitis, LUS is able to identify lung abnormalities not revealed by CXR. Furthermore, there is a good correlation between clinical and ultrasound findings. Given the short time needed to get a US report, this technique could become the routine imaging modality for patients with bronchiolitis.

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Ultrasound has been effective for early detection of renal and urinary tract anomalies. In addition, this screening has proved to be very useful for the early identification and management of both renal and extra-renal precancerous as well as cancerous lesions. However, most patients requiring surgery in this study (0.24%) would probably have been symptomatic and come to medical attention without routine screening. On the basis of our results screening is not justified.

Cushing’s disease (CD) is rare in paediatric practice but requires prompt investigation, diagnosis and therapy to prevent long-term complications. Key presenting features are a change in facial appearance, weight gain, growth failure, virilization, disturbed puberty and psychological disturbance. Close consultation with an adult endocrinology department is recommended regarding diagnosis and therapy. The incidence of CD, a form of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome (CS), is equal to approximately 5% of that seen in adults. The majority of ACTH-secreting adenomas are monoclonal and sporadic, although recent studies of pituitary tumours have shown links to several deubiquitination gene defects. Diagnosis requires confirmation of hypercortisolism followed by demonstration of ACTH-dependence. Identification of the corticotroph adenoma by pituitary MRI and/or bilateral inferior petrosal sampling for ACTH may contribute to localisation before pituitary surgery. Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) with selective microadenomectomy is first-line therapy, followed by external pituitary irradiation if surgery is not curative. Medical therapy to suppress adrenal steroid synthesis is effective in the short-term and bilateral adrenalectomy should be considered in cases unfit for TSS or radiotherapy or when urgent remission is needed after unsuccessful surgery. TSS induces remission of hypercortisolism and improvement of symptoms in 70–100% of cases, particularly when performed by a surgeon with experience in children. Post-TSS complications include pituitary hormone deficiencies, sub-optimal catch-up growth, and persisting excess of BMI. Recurrence of hypercortisolism following remission is recognised but infrequent, being less common than in adult CD patients. With experienced specialist medical and surgical care, the overall prognosis is good. Early referral to an experienced endocrine centre is advised.