[Effect of gastroesophageal reflux in children on x-ray imaging of the lungs].

The usefulness of radiologic examination in the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia in infants. The aim of the study was to estimate whether the connection between the localisation and radiological findings on the plain X-ray chest examination exists in the group of 121 infants and young children, age 1 to 24 month (77 boys and 44 girls), treated for pneumonia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), established by 24-hour esophageal pH-monitoring. In all children the diagnosis of pneumonia were made on admission to hospital by physical and X-ray chest examinations. GERD, in accordance with consensus ESPAGAN, was diagnosed in the group of 65 children. Children with abnormal results of pH-monitoring had significantly more changes in the lower parts of the right lung and in the intermediate and the lower parts of the left lung. There were no difference in radiological appearance between the changes suspected to the aspiration etiology and other pneumonic changes in the group of 56 children with normal pH-investigation. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the frequency of atelectasis, emphysema and/or enlargement of the thymus between both groups.