Transthoracic ultrasound in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis: is it valuable?

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purposeof this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic ultrasound in patients with bronchiectasis and compare it with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest.Patients and methodsSixty-one patients with bronchiectasis underwent transthoracic ultrasound. Radiological severity of bronchiectasis was assessed using a modified Reiff score (number of lobes involved in six lobes multiplied by the degree of bronchial dilatation) (tubular=1, varicose=2, cystic=3). Transthoracic findings were compared with that of the HRCT and pulmonary function tests.ResultsTwo patterns of sonographic abnormalities were detected: B-line pattern and c-profile (consolidation) pattern. The first was detected in 42 (68.8%) patients and the later was detected in seven (11.1%) patients. Twelve (19.7%) patients had normal sonographic examination. There was significant positive correlation between severity of bronchiectasis by the modified Reiff score pattern. The highest score correlated with the c-profile pattern and the lower score correlated with the B-line pattern (P≤0.001), while patients with very low score (≤20) had normal examination. There was a negative correlation between HRCT score, ultrasound pattern, and Partial pressure of oxygen tension (PO2) (P≤0.001).ConclusionBronchiectasis can be assessed by chest ultrasound; pattern of sonography is correlated to the radiological severity and functional impairment of the disease.