Special Articles

2. Radiological findings of iatrogenic diseases in the thorax in childhood

Hiroko Hara
Department of Radiology, Kawaguchi Municipal Medical Center

Abstract

　　Iatrogenic diseases refer to adverse effects or complications caused by or resulting from medical practice. Iatrogenic diseases may be caused by errors or by expected or unexpected outcomes of therapies and procedures associated with a wide variety of medical devices, medicines, radiation, anesthesia, and surgery. Some iatrogenic diseases are clearly defined, while some are less obvious, and can require significant investigation to prove iatrogenesis.
　Many complications have been reported in the thorax in childhood. Chest radiographs are useful to depict some of the complications associated with catheters and tube placement as follows; malposition, and hypopharyngeal or esophageal perforation associated with nasogastric tubes, different types of air leak, perforation, granulation and airway stenosis associated with endotracheal tubes, migration, pneumothorax, infection, hematoma, fluid collection, and thrombosis associated with peripherally inserted central venous catheters. Tracheo-innominate artery fistula following tracheostomy with scoliosis is a rare but life-threatening complication. To avoid delaying the diagnosis, it is important to recognize the tip and course of catheters and tubes on chest radiographs each time for prompt management.
　In this article, the radiographic findings associated with catheters and tube placement are described, as well as some other iatrogenic diseases in the thorax in childhood.

Keywords：Iatrogenic diseases, Thorax, Childhood