Summary
In neonates with respiratory distress, lung ultrasound (LUS) is at least as accurate as chest X-ray (CXR) for the diagnosis of pneumothorax (PTX), while chest transillumination (CTR) has a lower accuracy. Researchers studied the use of LUS, CXR, and CTR for the diagnosis of PTX in neonates with respiratory distress. They found that LUS was consistent with PTX in all 23 patients requiring chest aspiration. CXR did not detect PTX in one patient, while CTR did not detect it in three patients. The sensitivity and specificity of LUS, CXR, and CTR for diagnosing PTX were as follows:
LUS: Sensitivity = 1, Specificity = 1
CXR: Sensitivity = 0.96, Specificity = 1
CTR: Sensitivity = 0.87, Specificity = 0.96
The authors conclude that LUS is at least as accurate as CXR for the diagnosis of PTX in neonates and that CTR has a lower accuracy. They recommend that LUS be considered as a first-line diagnostic tool for PTX in neonates.
