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Multimodality imaging of pediatric airways disease: indication and technique

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Abstract

Congenital and acquired airway anomalies represent a relatively common albeit diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, even for the most skilled operators in dedicated centers. Airway malformations encompass a wide spectrum of pathologies involving the larynx, trachea and bronchi, esophagus, mediastinal vessels. These developmental lesions are often isolated but the association of two or more anomalies is not infrequent. From the traditional chest X-ray to the newest applications of Optical Coherence Tomography, non- or mini-invasive diagnostic techniques represent useful tools to integrate invasive procedures. Comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of each diagnostic test is mandatory for its useful application. The aim of our paper is to analyze the clinical indications for Imaging the Airway disease in pediatric population, and describe the diagnostic techniques. Only by a close interaction between all the operators involved in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric airway, as it happens in Multidisciplinary Airway Team, the non- or mini-invasive imaging is effective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy

    Nicola Stagnaro, Francesca Rizzo & GianMichele Magnano

  2. Airway Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy

    Michele Torre

  3. Department of Radiology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy

    Giuseppe Cittadini

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  1. Nicola Stagnaro
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  2. Francesca Rizzo
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  5. GianMichele Magnano
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Correspondence to Nicola Stagnaro.

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No animals were involved. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Stagnaro, N., Rizzo, F., Torre, M. et al. Multimodality imaging of pediatric airways disease: indication and technique. Radiol med 122, 419–429 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-017-0737-7

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