title: Look at the lung: can chest ultrasonography be useful in pregnancy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of chest ultrasound (US) in the detection, diagnosis and follow-up of pathologic processes of both peripheral lung parenchyma and pleural space in pregnant women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant women admitted to Obstetric Pathology Hospital Department for respiratory diseases were enrolled. Chest US examination was performed when there was a respiratory disease highly suggestive of pneumonia and/or pleural effusion and chest X-ray (CXR) should have been obtained. Three chest US patterns were identified: lung consolidation (LC), pleural effusion (PE) and focal sonographic interstitial syndromes (SIS). When chest US pathologic signs were reported, one or more subsequent chest US examinations were performed to follow-up the patient until their complete resolution. Sixteen inpatients underwent 54 chest US evaluations. We identified: 9 LCs, 6 PEs and 11 SISs. Total number of CXRs was 7 (10 females avoided X-rays exposure and one underwent 2 CXR evaluations on the advice of Gynecologist). Chest US follow-up, during and after therapy, showed complete resolution of echographic patterns previously described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chest US evaluation during pregnancy is a useful diagnostic tool to detect and monitor respiratory diseases, avoiding excessive X-rays exposure.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inchingolo
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.|Pulmonary Medicine Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smargiassi
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Flaminio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mormile
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.affiliation: Obstetric Pathology Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.affiliation: Obstetric Pathology Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzone
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine Department, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Corbo
keywords: Chest ultrasound; Pleural disease; Pneumonia; Pregnancy; Thoracic imaging