Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Non-Expandable Lung: A Prospective Observational Study of M-Mode, B-Mode, and 2D-Shear Wave Elastography

BACKGROUND: Non-expandable lung (NEL) has severe implications for patient symptoms and impaired lung function, as well as crucial implications for the management of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Indwelling pleural catheters have shown good symptom relief for patients with NEL; hence, identifying patients early in their disease is vital. With the inability of the lung to achieve pleural apposition following thoracentesis and the formation of a hydropneumothorax, traditionally, chest X-ray and clinical symptoms have been used to make the diagnosis following thoracentesis. It is our aim to investigate whether ultrasound measurement of lung movement during respiration can predict NEL before thoracentesis, thereby aiding clinicians in their planning for the optimal treatment of affected patients.

METHODS: A total of 49 patients were consecutively included in a single-centre trial performed at a pleural clinic. Patients underwent protocolled ultrasound assessment pre-thoracentesis with measurements of lung and diaphragm movement and shear wave elastography measurements of the pleura and pleural effusion at the planned site of thoracentesis.

RESULTS: M-mode measurements of lung movement provided the best diagnostic ROC-curve results, with an AUC of 0.81. Internal validity showed good results utilising the calibration belt test and Brier test.

CONCLUSION: M-mode measurement of lung movement shows promise in diagnosing NEL before thoracentesis in patients with known or suspected MPE. A validation cohort is needed to confirm the results.