The Netherlands journal of medicine
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The lung is at the crossroads of ventilation and circulation and can provide a wealth of diagnostic information. In the past, lung ultrasound (LUS) was considered impossible. However, the interplay between air, fluid and pleurae creates distinctive artefacts. Combinations of these artefacts can help differentiate between various pathological processes, including pulmonary oedema, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, obstructive airway disease and pneumothorax. LUS, when used by experienced physicians, is superior to chest X-ray and comparable to computed tomography for establishing a diagnosis in acutely dyspnoeic patients. LUS allows for rapid, non-invasive and bedside patient assessment. It is therefore unfortunate that unlike many other medical specialists in the Netherlands, internists have not yet incorporated LUS into their daily practice. ⋯ LUS is a promising diagnostic technique that can be of great help for the internist. It can be applied directly at the bedside and can also be used to follow up on disease progression and therapy. It is our belief that it will replace the stethoscope and that it will be the most used imaging technique in the near future, especially in dyspnoeic patients.