Abstract
Evaluation of diaphragm function is challenging because no single test has a high diagnostic yield. We describe ultrasound findings in three cases with acquired unilateral diaphragmatic elevation. These cases confirm that sonographic evaluation is a valid tool for identifying dia-phragm dysfunction. In addition, ultrasound measurements of diaphragm thickness and the contractility can be used to determine if a diaphragm is paralyzed and suggest the duration of paralysis (i.e., acute or chronic).
References
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Table 1.
Patient 1 | Patient 2 | Patient 3 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | 58 | 71 | 58 | |||
Sex | Male | Male | Female | |||
Symptom | None | None | None | |||
Duration | About 10 years | 1–4 months | 2–10 months | |||
Chest X-ray | ||||||
Elevation side | Left | Left | Right | |||
Diaphragm ultrasound | Right | Left | Right | Left | Right | Left |
Resting thickness (cm) | 0.328 | 0.183 | 0.203 | 0.157 | 0.171 | 0.184 |
Side-to-side ratioa | 0.56d | 0.77 | 0.93 | |||
Maximal thickness (cm) | 0.427 | 0.19 | 0.58 | 0.177 | 0.178 | 0.57 |
DTFb (%) | 30 | 4d | 186 | 13d | 4d | 210 |
NCSc | Right | Left | Right | Left | Right | Left |
Latency (ms) | 12.6d | 11.7d | 8.6 | 14.2d | 8.65d | 6.98 |
CMAP amplitude (mV) | 0.1d | 0.1d | 0.1d | 0.1d | 0.4 | 1.2 |