Ultrasound of lung parenchyma-current state and future

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Ultrasound

Background:

• Thoracic ultrasound for lung parenchyma assessment has gained significant evidence and clinical guideline integration over the past decade.
• Assessing patients with chest disease is common, making knowledge of chest imaging modalities crucial for physicians.
• The COVID-19 pandemic expanded the role of lung ultrasound from diagnosis to disease monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a focused overview of the current applications and limitations of thoracic ultrasound in lung parenchyma assessment.
• To discuss emerging areas and future developments in thoracic ultrasound for respiratory medicine.
• To highlight the need for consensus on competency assessment and education in thoracic ultrasound.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and clinical practice guidelines on thoracic ultrasound for lung parenchyma.
• Analysis of diagnostic and monitoring applications, including recent advancements.
• Exploration of new developing areas such as deep learning and contrast enhancement.

Main Results:

• Thoracic ultrasound is a common tool for screening, diagnosis, and increasingly, monitoring of lung diseases.
• New studies demonstrate significant potential for lung ultrasound in disease monitoring, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Emerging techniques like deep learning-enhanced contrast ultrasound show promise for improved diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Thoracic ultrasound is a valuable tool in respiratory medicine with expanding applications.
• Despite its growing use, a lack of consensus on education and competency assessment remains a challenge.
• Future developments, including AI and contrast enhancement, are expected to further advance thoracic ultrasound capabilities.