Chest
Special ReportLung Sound Terminology in Case Reports
Section snippets
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Seven journals were selected for review. Four are subspecialty chest journals, two American (American Review of Respiratory Diseases and Chest) and two British (British Journal of Diseases of the Chest and Thorax). Two general American medical journals (American Journal of Medicine and New England Journal of Medicine) and one pediatric journal (American Journal of Diseases of Children) were included. Starting with the then current issue (July 1977), each case report was read, and a note was
RESULTS
Lung sounds described in 663 case reports fall into three general categories: breath sounds, discontinuous, and continuous added sounds. On 54 occasions, breath sounds were described. Discontinuous added sounds were mentioned frequently: rales 488 times, crepitations 103 times, crackles 11 times, and “squeaks” twice. Continuous added sounds were encountered less often: rhonchi 129 times, wheezes 145 times, and stridor 18 times.
Adjectives used to qualify the term “breath sounds” (other than by
DISCUSSION
The results of this survey show the relative frequency of use at the present time of various terms. It seems likely that rales are synonymous with crepitations, the latter word being used predominantly by British authors. Many authors feel the need to qualify “rales” by descriptive adjectives, most of which are unclear. Some authors equate “rhonchus” with “wheeze” but others do not. All sounds have been described during both inspiration and expiration. Lung sound terminology clearly requires
REFERENCES (9)
Sounds of the lungs, editorial
Chest
(1978)ATS News
(1977)- et al.
Diagnosis of Diseases of the Chest
(1970) Crackles and wheezes
Lancet
(1970)
Cited by (0)
Supported by a Summer Student Research Scholarship (NJB) from the Southwestern Ohio Lung Association.
Presented at the Second International Lung Sounds Conference, Cincinnati, September 1977.