Characteristics of Pediatric Patients With Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia at a Tertiary Care Center in a High‐Altitude City

Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) is a rare and diffuse lung disease in children that presents significant diagnostic challenges worldwide, especially in Colombia, where comprehensive studies are limited. This retrospective review examines 10 clinical cases of NEHI diagnosed at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá between 2013 and 2023. The study reviewed 10 cases, comprising 6 males and 4 females. Patients presented with a median age of 9 months (range: 5-20 months) and commonly exhibited symptoms such as low oxygen saturation, tachypnea (100%), retractions in half of the cases. Chest CT scans revealed ground-glass opacities and bronchial thickening, while polysomnography demonstrated baseline desaturation (median minimum oxygen saturation: 74%), with central apneas observed in a subset of patients. Treatment strategies included supplemental oxygen, inhaled steroids, leukotriene inhibitors, and azithromycin. This study emphasizes the urgent need for a better understanding and management of NEHI, particularly in high-altitude regions such as Bogotá, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and clinical implications for affected children.