Abstract Background and objective Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (F-ILD), which include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other ILDs conferring risk for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), are a heterogeneous group of diseases with multiple subtypes. A multidisciplinary team discussion (MDD) incorporating HRCT is considered the gold standard for diagnosing and quantifying the extent of pulmonary fibrosis. However, repeated HRCTs are associated with substantial costs and radiation exposure. Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) findings such as B-lines and pleural line irregularities have emerged as a potential radiation-free tools for diagnosing and monitoring disease severity in patients with F-ILD. Yet, consistent knowledge regarding the use of TUS in this patient group remains limited. This systematic review aimed to evaluate existing literature on the applicability of TUS in patients with F-ILD. Methods We performed a systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane library databases were searched. Prospective, cross-sectional, and retrospective studies were considered. Risk of bias was assessed using quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Results Six studies met inclusion criteria. All examined patients with IPF, and two included other F-ILD subtypes. The most frequently evaluated TUS findings were B-lines and pleural line irregularities, and all the studies concluded that TUS can use to assess this patient group. However, there was marked methodological diversity in TUS methodology and protocols. Therefore, conduction a meta-analysis is not feasible. Conclusion Available data on TUS in F-ILD are sparse and heterogeneous. The evidence supporting the validity of TUS for diagnosing F-ILD or monitoring disease progression is inconsistent, highlighting the need for further research. This abstract is funded by: Boehringer Ingelheim Denmark A/S.
Patabendige et al. (Fri,) studied this question.