LUNG ULTRASOUND IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MECONIUM ASPIRATION SYNDROME IN NEONATES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Katarzyna Mazurek; Marek Wojciechowicz; Marta Brzęcka; Stanisław Rogiński; Łukasz Chojnowski; Anna Dominiczak; Krzysztof Rogiński; Ksawery  Szlęzak; Karolina Kryca; Karolina Rogińska

doi:10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4972

Authors

Katarzyna Mazurek Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4656-0897
Marek Wojciechowicz Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3963-6805
Marta Brzęcka Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1853-1415
Stanisław Rogiński Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7867-512X
Łukasz Chojnowski PCK Maritime Hospital in Gdynia, Gdynia, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6077-8636
Anna Dominiczak Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5984-2866
Krzysztof Rogiński Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9820-2443
Ksawery Szlęzak Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2650-113X
Karolina Kryca Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1649-9967
Karolina Rogińska Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6497-3980

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4972

Keywords:

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome, Lung Ultrasound, Neonate

Abstract

The aim of the study: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) remains an important cause of neonatal respiratory distress and is traditionally diagnosed using clinical criteria supported by chest X-ray. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a radiation-free, bedside imaging modality increasingly used in neonatal lung diseases. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the diagnostic role of LUS in neonates with MAS.

Materials and methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Original studies involving neonates with MAS and reporting MAS-specific LUS data were included. Studies were excluded if they were non-English, animal studies, lacked original data, involved non-MAS populations or focused on therapy guidance rather than diagnosis.

Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Across the included studies, LUS demonstrated high diagnostic performance for MAS, with reported sensitivity ranging from 90% to 100% and specificity 99.3% to 100%. Characteristic LUS findings included lung consolidations with air bronchogram, pleural line abnormalities, disappearance of A-lines and alveolar-interstitial syndrome.

Conclusions: LUS appears to be a reliable diagnostic tool for MAS and offers important advantages including absence of ionizing radiation and bedside applicability. It may be considered a first-line imaging modality in infants with suspected MAS, with chest X-ray reserved for cases of diagnostic uncertainty. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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