Not all abolished lung sliding are pneumothorax: the case of a particular lung atelectasis

Introduction Lung ultrasound (LUS) is expanding from the field of emergency medicine, also to the pneumological specialist field, becoming part of the diagnostic procedure of lung consolidation. Case presentation A 78-year-old male was admitted to our emergency department for exertional dyspnea. LUS...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ultrasound 2021-12, Vol.24 (4), p.519-523
Main Authors: Boccatonda, A., Primomo, G., Cocco, G., D’Ardes, D., Marinari, S., Montanari, M., Giostra, F., Schiavone, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atelectasis
Case Report
Consolidation
Dyspnea
Emergency medical care
Emergency medical services
Lungs
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Muscles
Pneumothorax
Segments
Sliding
Ultrasound
Visualization
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Summary:Introduction Lung ultrasound (LUS) is expanding from the field of emergency medicine, also to the pneumological specialist field, becoming part of the diagnostic procedure of lung consolidation. Case presentation A 78-year-old male was admitted to our emergency department for exertional dyspnea. LUS was performed, thus showing at right hemitorax air interface, A lines pattern, pleural sliding abolished on the whole hemitorax, thus suggesting a pneumothorax, but no evidence of lung point. A scan of lower lung segment showed an absence of the diaphragmatic excursion, suggestive for hemiparalysis of the diaphragm muscle, then confirmed by a subcostal scan. Moreover, at the lower segment of right hemitorax there was mild pleural effusion allowing the visualization of a round-shaped parenchymal consolidation with the absence of air bronchograms. Conclusions LUS allowed the visualization of a particular and rare disease such as anthracosis-associated rounded atelectasis, thus leading to a more correct and faster patient management.
ISSN:1876-7931
1971-3495
1876-7931
DOI:10.1007/s40477-020-00427-0