Premium
Lung Ultrasonography in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Evaluation of a Simplified Protocol With High‐Resolution Computed Tomographic Correlation
Author(s) -
Vassalou Evangelia E.,
Raissaki Maria,
Magkanas Eleftherios,
Antoniou Katerina M.,
Karantanas Apostolos H.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.14406
Subject(s) - medicine , supine position , sitting , intercostal space , computed tomographic , lung , radiology , high resolution , nuclear medicine , surgery , computed tomography , pathology , remote sensing , geology
Objectives To compare a simplified ultrasonographic (US) protocol in 2 patient positions with the same‐positioned comprehensive US assessments and high‐resolution computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Twenty‐five consecutive patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were prospectively enrolled and examined in 2 sessions. During session 1, patients were examined with a US protocol including 56 lung intercostal spaces in supine/sitting (supine/sitting comprehensive protocol) and lateral decubitus (decubitus comprehensive protocol) positions. During session 2, patients were evaluated with a 16–intercostal space US protocol in sitting (sitting simplified protocol) and left/right decubitus (decubitus simplified protocol) positions. The 16 intercostal spaces were chosen according to the prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis–related changes on high‐resolution CT. The sum of B‐lines counted in each intercostal space formed the US scores for all 4 US protocols: supine/sitting and decubitus comprehensive US scores and sitting and decubitus simplified US scores. High‐resolution CT–related Warrick scores ( J Rheumatol 1991; 18:1520–1528) were compared to US scores. The duration of each protocol was recorded. Results A significant correlation was found between all US scores and Warrick scores and between simplified and corresponding comprehensive scores ( P < .0001). Decubitus simplified US scores showed a slightly higher correlation with Warrick scores compared to sitting simplified US scores. Mean durations of decubitus and sitting simplified protocols were 4.76 and 6.20 minutes, respectively ( P < .005). Conclusions Simplified 16–intercostal space protocols correlated with comprehensive protocols and high‐resolution CT findings in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The 16–intercostal space simplified protocol in the lateral decubitus position correlated better with high‐resolution CT findings and was less time‐consuming compared to the sitting position.