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Congress: ECR25
Poster Number: C-25964
Type: Poster: EPOS Radiologist (educational)
Authorblock: M. R. Maia, M. A. Serrano, O. Vaz, I. M. Gomes; Coimbra/PT
Disclosures:
Marta Roque Maia: Nothing to disclose
Maria Antónia Serrano: Nothing to disclose
Olga Vaz: Nothing to disclose
Idílio MENDONCA Gomes: Nothing to disclose
Keywords: Thorax, Ultrasound, Diagnostic procedure, Artifacts, Trauma
Learning objectives Lung ultrasound is an efficient, radiation-free, and cost-effective method that is useful for diagnosing both traumatic and nontraumatic conditions.It plays a particularly important role in pediatrics, offering improved visualization of thoracic abnormalities due to children's smaller thoracic diameters and the advantage of avoiding ionizing radiation.This poster aims to encourage radiologists to recognize the importance of lung ultrasound and perform it when clinically indicated, ensuring its relevance and supporting the ordering clinician, especially in the emergency department and intensive care unit.
Read more Background Chest ultrasound is particularly useful in trauma, complementing radiographic findings or guiding diagnosis within seconds at the patient's bedside. In lung ultrasound, findings result from multiple pleural line artifacts. Consequently, if a pulmonary abnormality does not reach the pleural line, it remains undetectable due to the acoustic impedance mismatch between air and soft tissue.The pleural line generates the bat sign, a consistent landmark visible in all circumstances. This sign refers to the characteristic appearance of the pleural line (representing the...
Read more Findings and procedure details In polytraumatized patients, a rib or sternal fracture can be visualized as a discontinuity in the anterior cortex of the bone. It may suggest internal injuries such as hemothorax or pulmonary contusion.Ultrasound visualizes effusions directly, with hemothorax appearing as a heterogeneous fluid collection in the dependent portion of the lung. [fig 1] [fig 2] This also helps identify areas for drainage or surgical treatment.Ultrasound can detect pulmonary contusions as subpleural, irregular hypoechoic lesions with either indistinct or sharp margins. Some contusions may...
Read more Conclusion As ultrasound technology advances, the increasing level of image processing can make it more difficult to recognize artifacts essential for diagnosing lung conditions using this technique. Additionally, the time required to perform the exam tends to increase if the operator has limited experience.Like all ultrasound exams, patient-related limitations—such as a large body habitus or inability to cooperate—can significantly hinder its efficiency as a diagnostic method.Ultrasound is a versatile and highly accurate imaging modality, often superior to conventional chest radiography, especially...
Read more References 1. Wongwaisayawan, Sirote, et al. “Emergency Thoracic US: The Essentials.” RadioGraphics, vol. 36, no. 3, May 2016, pp. 640–659, europepmc.org/abstract/MED/27035835, https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2016150064.2. Lichtenstein, Daniel A. “Lung Ultrasound in the Critically Ill.” Annals of Intensive Care, vol. 4, no. 1, 2014, p. 1, https://doi.org/10.1186/2110-5820-4-1.3. Bhoil, Rohit, et al. “Signs and Lines in Lung Ultrasound.” Journal of Ultrasonography, vol. 21, no. 86, 16 Aug. 2021, pp. e225–e233, https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2021.0036.4. Marini, Thomas J., et al. “Lung Ultrasound: The Essentials.” Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, vol. 3, no....
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