High-resolution computed tomography of pediatric pulmonary parenchymal disorders.

The role of CT in the diagnosis of pediatric lung disease is still evolving, but certain indications are already well established. In immunocompromised or other high-risk children who have fevers or respiratory symptoms but normal or nonspecific chest radiographs, HRCT can detect and localize disease, thus allowing earlier therapy. It also has been shown that HRCT can assess the severity of disease in bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis and that it may provide a more sensitive means of evaluating therapy in these conditions. Areas for research include the effects of infection on the developing lung, quantification of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the prevalence of complications in asthma, and the use of HRCT in pulmonary edema of all types. As CT scan times decrease, the use of CT will expand to younger, sicker, and less cooperative children. Dynamic scanning probably will develop to provide a more accurate assessment of the focal and generalized air trapping that accompanies many common pediatric diseases.