D2.482 - Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia of Infancy (NEHI): Report of 7 Cases

Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) is a rare and increasingly recognized form of childhood interstitial lung disease, typically manifesting during early infancy. The condition is characterized by a distinctive clinical and radiological phenotype, most commonly presenting with persistent tachypnea, fine crackles, and varying degrees of hypoxemia in otherwise healthy infants. Diagnosis is primarily clinico-radiological and relies on characteristic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings, which may eliminate the need for invasive lung biopsy in many cases.

We report a series of seven infants diagnosed with NEHI and managed at the Pediatric Clinic of Alexandrovska University Hospital over a five-year period. All patients presented with symptoms beginning in early infancy and demonstrated typical HRCT patterns consistent with NEHI. In this cohort, early suspicion and recognition of the disease were facilitated by the adjunctive use of thoracic ultrasonography, which provided supportive imaging findings during initial evaluation and follow-up.

Our experience suggests that thoracic ultrasound may represent a valuable, non-invasive, radiation-free imaging modality for the screening and longitudinal monitoring of infants with suspected or confirmed interstitial lung disease, including NEHI. Incorporation of lung ultrasound into the diagnostic and follow-up algorithm may aid early diagnosis and improve disease monitoring in this vulnerable population.