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Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: March 3, 2023
Color and Power Doppler Sonography for Pneumothorax Detection
John R Richards1, Julianne M Awrey1, Sarah E Medeiros1
1Departments of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA.
B- and M-mode sonography is a standard for pneumothorax detection. Color and power Doppler sonography offer potential adjuncts for confirming lung sliding, enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Pulmonology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- B- and M-mode sonography is a widely adopted, accurate method for pneumothorax detection.
- This technique is rapid, bedside-compatible, and superior to chest radiography.
- Color and power Doppler sonography for pneumothorax detection are less established but show promise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of color and power Doppler sonography in pneumothorax detection.
- To review the physics, technique, and existing literature on Doppler use for lung sliding confirmation.
Main Methods:
- Review of physics principles of Doppler sonography applied to lung imaging.
- Description of techniques for utilizing color and power Doppler in conjunction with B- and M-mode.
- Case study illustrating Doppler sonography for pneumothorax diagnosis.
Main Results:
- B- and M-mode sonography are highly sensitive and specific for pneumothorax.
- Color and power Doppler can confirm or exclude lung sliding, aiding B-mode findings.
- Limited studies exist, but Doppler offers a potential adjunctive role.
Conclusions:
- While B- and M-mode sonography are standard for pneumothorax, Doppler ultrasound is an underutilized adjunct.
- Doppler imaging may improve diagnostic confidence by confirming lung sliding.
- Further research and wider adoption of Doppler techniques could enhance pneumothorax diagnosis.
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