Overview The diaphragm is a dome-shaped musculofibrous membrane that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities and performs an important respiratory function. The diaphragm has a fibrous portion centrally (i.e., a central tendon) surrounded by a peripheral muscular portion. Major structures…
The pleura is a serous membrane consisting of two layers, the visceral and the parietal pleura. The parietal pleura covers the inner aspect of the chest wall and the diaphragm. The visceral pleura is strongly adherent to the surface of…
The chest wall provides support and protection to the various thoracic vascular and nonvascular structures. In addition, it allows the important physiologic motion of the lungs and airways. The chest wall is less rigid and more cartilaginous in children than…
The pediatric diffuse lung disorders, also known as childhood interstitial lung diseases (chILDs), comprise a rare and heterogeneous spectrum of progressive and often lethal pulmonary pathology. They are characterized by otherwise unexplained respiratory signs and symptoms, hypoxemia, and widespread pulmonary…
Pulmonary neoplasm is much less common in children than in adults. Affected children may present clinically with respiratory symptoms, or a pulmonary neoplasm may be detected incidentally on a chest radiograph in an asymptomatic child. In a recent series of…
Pneumonia and other pulmonary infections involving the lower respiratory tract continue to be the most common cause of illness in children, affecting over 150 million children under 5 years of age each year worldwide, with 20 million related US hospitalizations…
Congenital lung anomalies represent a heterogeneous group of pulmonary developmental disorders that affect the lung parenchyma, its arterial supply, venous drainage, or a combination thereof. The reported incidence of congenital lung anomalies ranges from 30 to 42 cases per 100,000…
Overview Disorders of the lower large airways occur frequently in the pediatric population and have the potential to be life threatening. Because these disorders are often associated with nonspecific clinical symptoms, the diagnosis frequently is missed or delayed, particularly in…
The upper airway, by definition, lies above the thoracic inlet. The anomalies and abnormalities involving the upper airway in children are common and varied. They include a combination of congenital and acquired morphologic, neuromuscular, bony, and cartilaginous abnormalities. The anatomic…