The role of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease

Current data have shown that lung ultrasound (LUS) is an emerging tool in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) by evaluating numbers of B-lines, pleural irregularities and nodules or consolidations. These features can distinguish between ILD and others different pulmonary conditions (i.e., patients with heart failure or end-stage renal disease accompanied by pulmonary congestion). Although there is not a standardized approach for diagnosis of ILD by LUS examination and most studies has been made on rheumatologic patients, we discuss utility of LUS in detecting ILD and its correlation to classical radiological finding, especially to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).