Unrecognized B line mimicked pneumothorax on M mode ultrasound

Sa？etak One of the most signifcant fndings on lung ultrasound (LUS) are comet tail artifacts, also called B-lines or “lung rockets”. Te causes of such phenomena are fuidthickened interlobular septa due to increased extravascular lung water or clinical pulmonary edema. Te B-lines are defned as discrete, echogenic, vertical, laser-like signals which arise from the pleural line and extend to the bottom of the screen. (1) However, although originally described as an easily detectable sign, recent reports indicate that other artifacts, such as Z or E lines, may be mistakenly interpreted as B lines (and vice versa). Z lines are short, broad, vertical comet tail artifacts arising from the pleural line, but not reaching the distal edge of the screen. Tese can be seen in normal lungs, as well as with pneumothorax. E lines are vertical lines, which do not arise from the pleural line, as they originate from subcutaneous collections of gas (subcutaneous emphysema). Tey are not synchronous with respiratory movements, but they do erase A lines, and may therefore be mistaken for true B lines. (2) Visualization of B lines is considered to rule out pneumothorax (PNX) with a negative predictive value of 100%. On the other hand, visualization of a stratosphere sign (bar code - BC) and a “lung point sign” (the junction between PNX and an infating lung) on M mode are established as pathognomonic LUS fndings for PNX. Recently, these two fndings were described in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and without PNX. Te authors concluded that these were visualized due to the presence of bullous emphysema, where trapped air in large pulmonary bulla mimicked PNX. (3) We present the images and a video clip with presentation of BC on M mode, caused by an (unrecognized) B line, mistakenly diagnosed as PNX. In this case, BC was caused by overlapping the unrecognized B line with the cursor (line) in M mode during respiratory movements in a mechanically ventilated patient. When the B line is not on the M mode cursor, the display shows a normal M mode ultrasound lung fnding, termed the”sea shore” sign (fgure 1). When the B line crosses the M mode cursor, BC is displayed (fgure 2), and alterations of the “sea shore sign” and BC sign can easily be mistaken for a "lung point sign" (video clip). Tese images point out the importance of clear identifcation and distinction of B lines from (in some cases) similar Z and E lines. Both 2-D and M-modes of LUS should be used and interpreted for accurate diagnostic value