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. 2019 Aug 11;8(8):1199.
doi: 10.3390/jcm8081199.

Correlation between Transthoracic Lung Ultrasound Score and HRCT Features in Patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases

Milena Adina Man  1 , Elena Dantes  2 , Bianca Domokos Hancu  3 , Cosmina Ioana Bondor  1 , Alina Ruscovan  4 , Adriana Parau  4 , Nicoleta Stefania Motoc  1 , Monica Marc  5
Affiliations

Correlation between Transthoracic Lung Ultrasound Score and HRCT Features in Patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases

Milena Adina Man et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is considered the "gold" standard radiological method in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the correlation between two transthoracic lung ultrasound (LUS) scores (total number of B-lines score = the total sum of B-lines in 10 predefined scanning sites and total number of positive chest areas score = intercostal spaces with ≥3 B-lines) and the features in HRCT simplified scores, in different interstitial disorders, between LUS scores and symptoms, as well as between LUS scores and pulmonary function impairment. We have evaluated 58 consecutive patients diagnosed with ILD. We demonstrated that there was a good correlation between the total number of B-lines score and the HRCT simplified score (r = 0.784, p < 0.001), and also a good correlation between the total number of positive chest areas score and the HRCT score (r = 0.805, p < 0.005). The results confirmed the value of using LUS as a diagnostic tool for the assessment of ILD compared to HRCT. The use of LUS in ILD patients can be a useful, cheap, accessible and radiation-free investigation and can play a complementary role in the diagnosis and monitoring of these patients.

Keywords: B-line; high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT); interstitial lung disease (ILD); pulmonary interstitial syndrome; transthoracic lung ultrasound (LUS).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Lung intercostal spaces assessment in a reduced lung ultrasound (LUS) protocol (10 lung intercostal spaces). (1) Posterior suprascapular intercostal space (IC); (2) posterior basal subscapular IC (space 5–7); (3) lateral basal 5–7 IC along midaxillary line; (4) anterior 2 IC along midclavicular line; (5) anterior basal 5–7 IC along midclavicular line.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Correlation between chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score and total number of B-lines score in the study group. (b) Correlation between chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score and total number of positive chest areas score with ≥3 B-lines in the study group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Correlation between chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score and total number of B-lines score in the study group. (b) Correlation between chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score and total number of positive chest areas score with ≥3 B-lines in the study group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) HRCT imaging in the lung window at the level of middle and lower lobes with subpleural honey combing and fine reticulation, as well as traction bronchiectasis, that confirm UIP pattern (black lines). (b) LUS imaging with multiple B-lines (thin arrow), confirm the fibrotic interstitial syndrome; thick arrow represents pleural line which is not thickened.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) HRCT imaging in the lung window at the level of middle and lower lobes with subpleural honey combing and fine reticulation, as well as traction bronchiectasis, that confirm UIP pattern (black lines). (b) LUS imaging with multiple B-lines (thin arrow), confirm the fibrotic interstitial syndrome; thick arrow represents pleural line which is not thickened.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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