Bacterial Pneumonia Diagnosis among Children through Sono-Elastography: An Ultrasound Quantitative Non-Invasive Measurement Approach

Abstract

This chapter aims to provide an overview of lung sono-elastography (SE) technical aspects, and to explore its potential usefulness as a non-invasive diagnostic technique for acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI) in children by implementing an institutional image acquisition protocol. Nowadays, lung ultrasonography (LUS) is the gold standard for diagnosing lung diseases such as ALRTI. Its routine application has supplanted chest radiography and it has resulted in a significant decrease in children's radiation exposure.  Despite its undeniable usefulness, there are situations in which quantitative measurements could provide additional data to differentiate the etiology of some pulmonary processes and thus adapt the treatment. We have seen that this differentiation could be improved by adding another quantitative diagnostic test, such as procalcitonin. In this direction, we believe the quantitative measurement of lung elasticity by SE could improve diagnostic accuracy. In contrast, certain lung conditions as pneumonia, frequently result in changed lung tissue stiffness, which may be measured with novel diagnostic techniques like lung SE. After a thorough analysis of the literature, it was determined that there is currently little research on the use of SE, especially in children, in the investigation of pulmonary processes.