Zuzana Michnová1,2, Lýdia Zúbriková1, Katarína Janíková1,2, Lenka Vojarová1,2, Peter Bánovčin1,2
The use of ultrasound for the evaluation of the lung is relatively recent. Transthoracic ultrasonography is a noninvasive and readily available imaging modality that has important applications not only in pulmonary medicine. It allows the clinician to diagnose a variety of thoracic disorders at the point of care. Ultrasonography is useful in imaging lung consolidation, pleural-based masses and effusions, pneumothorax, diaphragmatic dysfunction, subdiaphragmatic spaces, rib fracture and mediastinum in children. Furthermore, it is increasingly used to guide interventional procedures of the chest and pleural space (biopsy, puncture, drainage). Lung ultrasonography can be adopted as a simple imaging method for evaluating children and pregnant women with lung disease in real time. It is easy to perform at bedside, allows a close follow-up and avoids the use of ionizing radiation.