Presentation
Long-standing type 2 diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension.
Patient Data
Age: 75 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
B-lines (ultrasound)
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- Bilateral pleural effusion with resultant compression atelectasis.
- Multiple vertical, often confluent streak-like hyperechogenic artefacts are visible around the lung base, arising from the pleural surface, and reaching the border of the scan field, which correspond to B-lines.
From the case:
B-lines (ultrasound)
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B-lines are transient and rapidly changing phenomenon, which can be better appreciated in the cine recording.
Case Discussion
B-lines can be occasionally observed under normal circumstances around the base of the lung. Here, the moderately increased number of these artefacts (3-4/intercostal space) likely corresponds to interstitial fluid accumulation due to the compression caused by the pleural effusion, and also due to chronic heart failure.