title: The thoracic spine sign in bedside ultrasound. Three cases report.
abstract: The "thoracic spine sign" is visualized when anechoic or hypoechoic fluid is present in the pleural space. Fluid serves as a medium through which the thoracic vertebral bodies are visualized above the diaphragm. We present three cases of emergency department patients with a thoracic spine sign identified on bedside ultrasound. These patients were subsequently diagnosed with pleural fluid accumulations on chest radiograph. Our findings suggest that the identification of the sonographic spine sign may aid the physician in the evaluation and diagnosis of emergency department patients with thoracic complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital, Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, USA. turan@joshsaul.com.
authors.forename: Abdul-Aziz R
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital, Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Turandot
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saul
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital, Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Resa E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lewiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging