Lung Ultrasonography May Provide an Indirect Estimation of Lung Porosity and Airspace Geometry

Abstract

Background: Echographic vertical artifacts (B-lines) in chest ultrasonography have often been associated with pathological patterns. A scientifically sound explanation of these artifacts has not yet been proposed. Objectives: The ‘spongy' nature of the lung in its liquid and solid components and the changes that take place in peripheral airspace (PAS) geometry might be the key point to understanding these phenomena. Methods: Six excised right rabbit lungs were obtained. Each lung underwent direct ultrasound evaluation in two different conditions: at complete tissue elastic recoil volume and at pulmonary expansion volume achieved by applying a constant positive pressure of 12 cm H₂O. Lung volumes and densities were reported in both conditions. Histological examination was performed on three naturally collapsed lungs and on three lungs under positive pressure inflation after having been fixed in formalin solution. Results: Mean volumes of naturally collapsed lungs and fixed expanded lungs were 11.2 ± 0.36 and 44.83 ± 3.03 ml, respectively. Mean densities were 0.622 ± 0.016 and 0.155 ± 0.007 g/ml, respectively. Ultrasound evaluation of collapsed lungs showed dense vertical artifacts and a ‘white lung' pattern, while the evaluation of expanded lungs showed hyperechoic line and horizontal artifacts of reflection. Histological evaluation showed a different PAS geometry in collapsed lungs caused by alveolar size reduction and shape changes with unfolded and closed units modifying the peripheral porosity of the frothy nature of the lung. Conclusions: Airspace geometry, frothy nature and porosity are the determinants of the different behavior of ultrasound interacting with the subpleural lung parenchyma. Chest ultrasound may thus be interpreted as an indirect ‘estimator' of lung porosity.

Lung artefacts and their use

“…Soldati et al [20] considered the 'spongy' nature of the lung in its liquid and solid components and the changes that take place in peripheral airspace geometry, which might be the key to understanding these phenomena. From animal experiments, they concluded that airspace geometry, frothy nature and porosity are the determinants of the different behaviour of ultrasound wave interactions with the sub pleural lung parenchyma.…”

“…From animal experiments, they concluded that airspace geometry, frothy nature and porosity are the determinants of the different behaviour of ultrasound wave interactions with the sub pleural lung parenchyma. Chest ultrasound may be interpreted as an indirect 'estimator' of lung porosity [20].…”

Artifacts, Noise and Interference: Much Ado about Ultrasound

“…Aside from the validity of the above-stated comments by Soldati et al [1], we would respectfully like to ask the authors for some clarification to reinforce their message:…”

“…We appreciate the insight provided by Soldati et al [1], who addressed the origin of artifacts in thoracic ultrasound (US), stating that they do not correspond to anatomical structures, visible or otherwise [1]. Indeed, like noise and interference, artifacts ‘detected' by biomedical signaling tools, being equipment- or technique-related errors in the perception or representation of visual or auditory data [2], can be minimized and removed by clinical recording.…”

“…(1) By ‘generation of sonographic interstitial syndrome is not completely clear and the visual representation of lung artifacts (B-lines and white lung) by the machine is too simplistic' [1], do the authors mean that where we see B-lines that are only a ‘sonographically' defined interstitial syndrome, the cause may be any, and even no, disease?…”