Our new stethoscope LUS, with a new scoring system, in CF lung disease

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Lung ultrasonography(LUS) is an increasingly popular diagnostic tool that may reduce ionizing radiation exposure in evaluating lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aims to evaluate the traditional parameters used in the assessment of lung disease in CF patients in comparison with LUS using a new scoring system in which diaphragmatic thickness measurement is added for the first time. <bold>Methods:</bold> LUS is performed by radiologist with conventional general imaging device and pediatric pulmonologist with wireless handheld device and scored separately. Small(<10mm) and major(>10mm) consolidations, pleura abnormalities, B-lines(number and confluence), and diaphragmatic thickness are scored by LUS. Modified Chrispin-Norman score is used to evaluate Chest X-rays. Age, gender, BMI, FEV1(%), FVC, pancreatic insufficiency, colonization status, and mutations are used in comparisons. <bold>Results:</bold> The mean age of 35 patients was 7.17±4.80 years; 62.9%(n:22) were female. There was no statistically significant difference between the devices (t:2.17;p>0,01), and a high level of correlation was found (r:0,91). LUS correlated with CXR (r:0.49), delF508 mutation (r:0.36), colonization status(r:0.28), abnormal FEV1(r:-0.42) and abnormal FVC(r:-0.43). The relationship has strengthened with the new scoring system defined by adding diaphragmatic thickness measurement (fig1). No correlation was found between LUS scores and age, gender, BMI, and pancreatic insufficiency. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Wireless handheld LUS, a non-invasive, rapid, radiation-free, reproducible, low-cost diagnostic tool that can be performed by clinicians in the outpatient clinic like a stethoscope, may provide more and reliable information about lung disease in CF.