Lung ultrasound: Part one

Abstract

Lung ultrasound - LUS has been underestimated for a long time as a diagnostic method. Ribs, pulmonary parenchyma filled with air and sternum are structures that reject ultrasonic waves. However, many pathological processes inside the chest wall, pleura, and pulmonary parenchyma result in significant changes in tissue structure, resulting in the change of acoustic transmissivity and allow sonographic evaluation. The main pathological substrates of the lung parenchyma (pleural effusions, alveolar syndrome / consolidation, intestinal syndrome and pneumothorax) can be differentiated through ten axial ultrasound signs. The basic signs are: 'bat sign', A lines, 'lung sliding', quad sign, sinusoid sign, tissue-like sign, shred sign, B lines (a sign of the rocket), the sign of the stratosphere (seashore sign) and the 'lung point'. LUS is performed using linear, convex and sector probe, in B and M mode, through 12 fields to topographic lines. Lung ultrasound as a diagnostic method shows significant sensitivity and specificity in comparison with the MDCT examination as a gold standard.

Keywords

• lung ultrasound
• pathological substrates
• basic signs