Table 6 The lung signs matrix
From: Lung ultrasound—a primary survey of the acutely dyspneic patient
Diagnosis | Lung signs distribution | Lung sliding | Pleural line | B-lines | Effusion | Consolidation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acute pulmonary oedema/fluid overload states | Bilateral/symmetrical | Present | Normal | Bilateral/symmetrical | Often present | No |
Acute respiratory distress syndrome | Bilateral/asymmetrical/patchy | Present/may be absent in severe states | Thickened/uneven | Patchy distribution | May be found | Yes |
Bacterial pneumonia | Usually unilateral/focal/patchy | Present/may be absent in severe states | Thickened/uneven | Focal | May be found/empyema | Yes |
Viral/atypical pneumonia | Bilateral/asymmetrical/patchy | Present/may be absent in severe states | Thickened/uneven | Patchy distribution | May be found | Yes |
Acute interstitial lung disease | Bilateral/asymmetrical/patchy | Present/may be absent in severe states | Thickened/uneven | Patchy distribution | May be found | Yes |
Pneumothorax | Focal/starts with upper lung | Absent | Normal | No | No | No |
COPD exacerbation/asthma | – | Present | Normal | No | No | No |
Acute pulmonary infarction | Focal | Present/may be absent | Normal/may be thickened | No | May be found | Yes—at late stage |
Atelectasis | Focal | Absent | Normal | No | May be found | Yes—at late stage |