Lung ultrasound in evaluation of pneumonia.

uring the last 20 years, ultrasound has been shown to be highly effective in evaluating a range of pathologic pulmonary conditions. One of the most widely studied and practiced applications is the evaluation of pneumonia with ultrasound. Ultrasound interrogation of the thorax for detection of pneumonia has been explored most in critical care and emergency department settings. However, recently, the application has spread to general practice and even prehospital settings. A number of scanning approaches exist, ranging from highly involved research scanning tools to rapid and focused surveillance scans. The most widely accepted protocol is performed rapidly and easily and has proved to be sensitive and specific in adult and pediatric patients. Multiple studies have shown lung ultrasound imaging to be more accurate than chest radiography and in some cases rivals the accuracy of computed tomography (CT), such as in the diagnosis of lung abscesses. This article reviews clinical scenarios in which the lung ultrasound examination is useful in suspected pneumonia, describes pathologic findings, and presents a commonly accepted scanning protocol.