scholarly journals Interstitial syndrome-lung ultrasound B lines: a potential marker for pulmonary metastases? A case series

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Viviana Carlino ◽  
Costantino Mancusi ◽  
Giovanni De Simone ◽  
Filomena Liccardi ◽  
Mario Guarino ◽  
...  

Four patients presented to the Emergency Department with dyspnea and they underwent point-of-care ultrasound. Lung ultrasound showed a diffuse bilateral B-profile pattern-interstitial syndrome, they underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of thorax that showed multiple bilateral lung metastases. The detection, in a dyspneic patient, of a diffuse Bprofile pattern not attributable to traditional interstitial syndrome conditions (pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute pulmonary edema, interstitial pneumonia) could be indicative of multiple pulmonary metastases.

Author(s):  
Robert Farrow ◽  
Graham Becherer-Bailey ◽  
Daniel Mantuani ◽  
Arun Nagdev

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several case series from Italy and China have highlighted the lung ultrasound findings of this disease process and may demonstrate its clinical utility during the current pandemic. Case Report: We present a case of a COVID-19 patient who presented to the emergency department twice within a 24-hour period with rapidly progressing illness. A multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) evaluation was used on the return visit and assisted clinical decision-making. Discussion: A multi-organ POCUS exam allows for quick assessment of acute dyspnea in the emergency department. As the lung involvement of COVID-19 is primarily a peripheral process it is readily identifiable via lung ultrasound. We believe that when applied efficiently and safely a POCUS exam can reduce clinical uncertainty and potentially limit the use of other imaging modalities when treating patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: This case highlights the utility of an early multiorgan point-of-care assessment for patients presenting with moderate respiratory distress during the severe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-167
Author(s):  
Daniel Owen Mort ◽  
◽  
Dipraj Limbu ◽  
Joseph Nunan ◽  
Andrew P. Walden ◽  
...  

COVID-19 pneumonia produces a heterogeneous array of clinical, biochemical, and radiological findings. Over the last few months of global hurry to optimize a testing strategy, it has been suggested that bedside point-of-care lung ultrasound may have a diagnostic role. We present 3 patients with RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia, who had an admission plain chest film reported to be normal by a consultant radiologist, but with significant sonographic abnormalities on bedside ultrasound performed within 24 hours of the chest radiograph. Lung ultrasound may better correlate with the oxygen requirement and overall condition of the patient than chest radiographs – a pertinent consideration given the imminent advance of the pandemic into resource-poor zones where timely access to roentgenological imaging may be sparse.


Author(s):  
James Ronaldson ◽  
Christopher E. J. Moultrie ◽  
Alasdair R. Corfield ◽  
Evelyn McElhinney

Abstract Background As an adjunct to physical examination, ultrasound is a potentially attractive option for diagnosing pneumothoraces in the pre-hospital and retrieval environment – and could confer a benefit to patient safety. However, the published evidence supporting non-physicians use of ultrasound in this setting is limited. Aim We aimed to establish if Advanced Retrieval Practitioners (non-physicians) could acquire ultrasound views of the lungs and interpret them with sufficient quality to diagnose pneumothorax in the pre-hospital and retrieval environment when compared to expert review. Method The study consisted of an observational trial from April 2017 to April 2018. Twelve (12) patients bilateral lung ultrasound images (24 images) were randomly selected from 87 patients assessed using Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) by three Advanced Retrieval Practitioners in the Pre-hospital and Retrieval environment. Two expert reviewers’ evaluated these images to determine ARPs ability to acquire diagnostic quality images and interpret them correctly. CXR results of patients in whom lung ultrasound was undertaken were recorded as the reference standard investigation. Results Within the 22 images considered adequate by the Advanced Retrieval Practitioners, 19 (86.4%, one-tailed McNemar test p = 0.125) were considered adequate on expert review. Of the 19 images mutually considered as adequate, both the Advanced Retrieval Practitioners and the reviewers identified two pneumothoraces which were subsequently confirmed on chest x-ray (Sensitivity 100% and Specificity 100% in technically adequate images). One pneumothorax was detected on CXR in a patient with inadequate ultrasound images. Advanced Retrieval Practitioners were therefore able to both obtain adequate images and correctly diagnose pneumothorax in the pre-hospital environment with 66.6% sensitivity (95%CI 66.6–100%) and 100% specificity (95%CI 81.0–100%) compared to expert review. Conclusion Advanced Retrieval Practitioners (non-physicians) can obtain diagnostic views of the lungs of sufficient quality to diagnose the presence, or particularly the absence, of pneumothorax in the pre-hospital and retrieval environment. Although Advanced Retrieval Practitioners were less accurate than the expert reviewers at interpreting the quality of the ultrasound images, the result was not statistically significant, despite the ARPs possibly having been at a methodological disadvantage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Duggan ◽  
Andrew Liteplo ◽  
Hamid Shokoohi ◽  
Andrew Goldsmith

Introduction: First detected in December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic upended the global community in a few short months. Diagnostic testing is currently limited in availability, accuracy, and efficiency. Imaging modalities such as chest radiograph (CXR), computed tomography, and lung ultrasound each demonstrate characteristic findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Lung ultrasound offers benefits over other imaging modalities including portability, cost, reduced exposure of healthcare workers as well as decreased contamination of equipment such as computed tomography scanners. Case Series: Here we present a case series describing consistent lung ultrasound findings in patients with confirmed COVID-19 despite variable clinical presentations and CXR findings. We discuss a triage algorithm for clinical applicability and utility of lung point-of-care ultrasound in the setting of COVID-19 and advocate for judicious and targeted use of this tool. Conclusion: Lung point-of-care ultrasound can provide valuable data supporting diagnostic and triage decisions surrounding suspected cases of COVID-19. Prospective studies validating our proposed triage algorithm are warranted.


Critical Care ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arif Hussain ◽  
Gabriele Via ◽  
Lawrence Melniker ◽  
Alberto Goffi ◽  
Guido Tavazzi ◽  
...  

AbstractCOVID-19 has caused great devastation in the past year. Multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) including lung ultrasound (LUS) and focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) as a clinical adjunct has played a significant role in triaging, diagnosis and medical management of COVID-19 patients. The expert panel from 27 countries and 6 continents with considerable experience of direct application of PoCUS on COVID-19 patients presents evidence-based consensus using GRADE methodology for the quality of evidence and an expedited, modified-Delphi process for the strength of expert consensus. The use of ultrasound is suggested in many clinical situations related to respiratory, cardiovascular and thromboembolic aspects of COVID-19, comparing well with other imaging modalities. The limitations due to insufficient data are highlighted as opportunities for future research.


Author(s):  
Mustafa J. Musa ◽  
Mohamed Yousef ◽  
Mohammed Adam ◽  
Awadalla Wagealla ◽  
Lubna Boshara ◽  
...  

: Lung ultrasound [LUS] has evolved considerably over the last years. The aim of the current review is to conduct a systematic review reported from a number of studies to show the usefulness of [LUS] and point of care ultrasound for diagnosing COVID-19. A systematic search of electronic data was conducted including the national library of medicine, and the national institute of medicine, PubMed Central [PMC] to identify the articles depended on [LUS] to monitor COVID-19. This review highlights the ultrasound findings reported in articles before the pandemic [11], clinical articles before COVID-19 [14], review studies during the pandemic [27], clinical cases during the pandemic [5] and other varying aims articles. The reviewed studies revealed that ultrasound findings can be used to help in the detection and staging of the disease. The common patterns observed included irregular and thickened A-lines, multiple B-lines ranging from focal to diffuse interstitial consolidation, and pleural effusion. Sub-plural consolidation is found to be associated with the progression of the disease and its complications. Pneumothorax was not recorded for COVID-19 patients. Further improvement in the diagnostic performance of [LUS] for COVID-19 patients can be achieved by using elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and power Doppler imaging.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272091627
Author(s):  
Gayatri Setia ◽  
Ilan Kedan

Background: Kidney and renal pelvic cancer was the sixth most common cancer in men and 10th most common in women in the United States in 2018. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), accounts for 86% of malignancies of the kidney. RCC patients are often asymptomatic; up to 25-30% have metastases at diagnosis. Few present with the triad of gross hematuria, flank pain, and abdominal mass. In RCC patients, 36% had 2 symptoms of the triad, and 60% had gross hematuria as 1 symptom. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers a way to identify clinically meaningful anatomic abnormalities. This case series presents 3 patients in whom routine POCUS examination performed in an outpatient cardiology clinic found asymptomatic renal masses, resulting in surgical resection and cure of early-stage RCCs. Case Presentation: Patient 1: 54-year-old female with hypertension (HTN). Two solid masses were identified with POCUS in the right kidney. Patient 2: 63-year-old male with coronary artery disease (CAD) and HTN was seen at an 8-month follow-up visit. A 6-cm mass was identified in the left kidney. Patient 3: 69-year-old male with CAD, HTN, and smoking history seen at 5-month follow-up visit. A 3-cm mass in the right kidney was identified. Conclusions: Incorporating POCUS into the routine physical examination in the ambulatory care setting may improve rates of detection and increase the pretest probability of identifying renal pathology with formal imaging studies. With minimal clinician training, earlier and increased detection of asymptomatic RCC may result in improved patient survival.


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