[Clinical features of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy].

Objective: To study the clinical features of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) in order to provide a basis for the management of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of children with NEHI.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of seven children with NEHI who were diagnosed and treated from January 2014 to March 2016.
Results: Among the seven children with NEHI, there were five boys and two girls. Two children experienced tachypnea since the neonatal period, and five children developed respiratory tract symptoms within 1-6 months after birth. Of the 7 children, 6 had pulmonary crackles, 4 had hypoxemia, and 3 had gastroesophageal reflux. Lung high-resolution CT (HRCT) showed ground-glass opacities in the central region of the lungs in all children, which involved at least two lung lobes. Of the 7 children, 2 had the involvement of more than 4 lobes and 6 had air trapping. All 7 children had an improvement in clinical symptoms after two years of age. One child achieved clinical and CT remission. Four children achieved clinical remission, but still with CT changes.
Conclusions: NEHI often occurs in infancy, with the major clinical manifestations of persistent tachypnea, pulmonary crackles, and hypoxemia. The children with NEHI often present ground-glass opacities in the central region of the lungs and air trapping on HRCT. There is no specific treatment for this disease and most cases have a good prognosis.