Upper airway in children: Medical application of CR

Abstract

There are several methods to evaluate the upper airway in children. Direct observations can be made by laryngoscopy or endoscopy. Bronchography with the injection of contrast material is also a method for making a definitive diagnosis. However, these methods are rather invasive and some risks and complications cannot be avoided. The indication of these methods is, therefore, rather limited. The conventional radiographic examination taking the lateral nasopharyngeal view is noninvasive, but the diagnostic accuracy does not seem to be sufficient because of the poor resolution in observing the entire airway. Special techniques, including the high-voltage technique [1] and xeroradiography [2], have thus been introduced to provide better evaluation. However, especially in the case of small children with an abnormal upper airway, the choice of imaging method is limited and only radiographs utilizing a portable X-ray unit can be obtained in the ward or ICU because of the requirement of respiratory management. Therefore, it is rather difficult to obtain sufficiently good images to make the correct diagnosis.