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The Pediatric Airway

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Imaging in Pediatric Pulmonology

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Abstract

In addition to the various developmental and normal physiologic factors that influence the airway, certain diseases and congenital defects may cause structural abnormalities. Many of these may present with upper airway obstruction. The differential diagnosis for extrathoracic airway obstruction is extensive and includes obstructions of the nasal passages, oropharynx, larynx, and the glottis. Anatomic abnormalities of the chin and tongue, such as micrognathia and macroglossia, can cause obstruction. In the naso-pharynx, obstruction is caused by nasal polyps and a persistence of the bucconasal membrane, as seen in choanal atresia or nasal piriform aperture stenosis. Within the oropharynx, adenoid-tonsillar enlargement, as well as peri-tonsillar and retropharyngeal abscesses, can obstruct the airway.

Portions of the text and illustrations from Cleveland RH. The pediatric airway. Contemp Diagn Radiol. 1996;19:1–6; Bramson RT, Griscom NT, Cleveland RH. Interpretation of chest radiographs in infants with cough and fever. Radiology. 2005;236:22–29; and Cleveland RH. The pediatric airway. In: Taveras JM, Ferrucci JT, editors. Radiology: diagnosis, imaging, intervention. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1997, Vol. 1, Chap. 48A, p. 1–13, with permission.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Robert H. Cleveland MD

  2. Departments of Radiology and Medicine, Division of Respiratory Diseases, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Robert H. Cleveland MD

  3. Division of Thoracic Imaging, Departments of Radiology and Medicine, Pulmonary Division, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Edward Y. Lee MD, MPH

  4. Pediatric Pulmonary Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Mary Shannon Fracchia MD

  5. Division of Respiratory Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Dennis Rosen MD

Authors
  1. Robert H. Cleveland MD
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  2. Edward Y. Lee MD, MPH
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  3. Mary Shannon Fracchia MD
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  4. Dennis Rosen MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert H. Cleveland MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Hospital Boston, Dept. Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Longwood Ave. 300, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Robert H. Cleveland

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Cleveland, R.H., Lee, E.Y., Fracchia, M.S., Rosen, D. (2012). The Pediatric Airway. In: Cleveland, R. (eds) Imaging in Pediatric Pulmonology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5872-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5872-3_6

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