This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yuksel, B. Articles by Karani, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yuksel, B. Articles by Karani, J.

Comparison of a subjective and a quantitative assessment of the neonatal chest radiograph

Department of Child Health, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK ^* Department of Radiology, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK

The aim of this study was to assess if quantitative classification of the chest radiograph appearance at 7 days predicted chronic oxygen dependency (oxygen dependency beyond 8 weeks of age) more accurately than did subjective classification at 28 days of age. Thirty preterm infants, median gestational age 27 weeks, who had chest radiographs taken for clinical purposes at 7 and 28 days of age, were recruited into the study. The 7-day chest radiograph was scored according to the lung volume, presence of opacification, interstitial changes, pulmonary interstitial emphysema and cystic elements. The range of chest radiograph scores was from 0–18, a score of 18 indicating the most abnormal appearance. The 28-day chest radiograph was classified as Type I or Type II chronic lung disease (CLD), according to the presence or absence, respectively, of coarse reticulation. The median chest radiograph score at 7 days of the 30 infants was 5 (range 2–14). In predicting chronic oxygen dependency, a chest radiograph score of 5 at 7 days had 83% sensitivity and 75% specificity, but a diagnosis of Type II CLD at 28 days of age had only 67% sensitivity and 67% specificity. We conclude that a quantitative assessment of the chest radiograph appearance at 7 days is more useful than a subjective assessment at 28 days of age.

Key Words: Chronic lung disease • Prematurity

Received for publication June 11, 1992. Accepted for publication August 10, 1992.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. A. Agrons, S. E. Courtney, J. T. Stocker, and R. I. Markowitz From the Archives of the AFIP: Lung Disease in Premature Neonates: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation RadioGraphics, July 1, 2005; 25(4): 1047 - 1073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]