Radiology – Integrated Training Initiative (R-ITI) | Paediatrics | Hilar Enlargement

Hilar Enlargement
Session Overview
Description
This session describes normal hilar anatomy and the various pathologies in children that cause hilar enlargement, displacement and altered shape.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Recognise normal hilar anatomy
• Identify normal hilar structures on chest x-ray (CXR) and computed tomography (CT)
• Design a systematic approach to analyse the hilar structures
• Recognise an enlarged hilum
• Recognise the types of pathologies in children that cause hilar enlargement, displacement and altered shape
• Provide a sensible differential diagnosis, taking into account clinical evaluation and other relevant abnormalities on the radiological examination
• Advise on further management

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should have basic knowledge of:

• Anatomy of the chest
• Paediatric thoracic imaging techniques as covered in the session in Module 5 Paediatrics/Thoracic Imaging Techniques (300-0439)

The hilum of the lung is a wedge-shaped depression on the mediastinal surface of each lung, where the bronchus, blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics enter or leave the viscus. Synonyms for the hilum are hilum pulmonis and porta pulmonis.

In this session, we will start by looking at normal hilar anatomy in the child on different imaging modalities. We will then look at the various pathologies that cause enlargement, displacement and altered shape of the hilum.