Abstract

Lung ultrasound (LUS) offers an immediate diagnosis in accordance with the clinical examination in many causes of pulmonary diseases: pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism and interstitial lung diseases. At first level exam, CXR, despite its intrinsic limitations and low accuracy, may still play a relevant role. CT scan remains the gold standard, but it requires patient transportation and use of radiation, which precludes an extensive use especially within the same patient. Lung ultrasound, after proper training of the physician, is able to provide greater accuracy than CXR and similar accuracy to the CT scan. LUS usually allows immediate targeted therapy and goal-oriented planning of the further strategy: which further imaging is required? Can he/she be cared for as an outpatient or in which department must she/he be admitted?

Author Details

Authors

• G. Mathis¹
• P. Zechner²

Departments

• ¹ Internist, Rankweil, Österreich,
• ² Facharzt für Innere Medizin, Landeskrankenhaus Graz, Österreich

Address

Prof. Dr. Gebhard Mathis
Internist
Dr. Summer-Straße 3
6830 Rankweil, Österreich
Email: [email protected]

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