
What is the difference between Kerley a and B lines?
Kerley A lines are never seen without Kerley B or C lines. Kerley B lines in a patient with congestive heart failure. These are short parallel lines at the lung periphery. These lines represent interlobular septa, which are usually less than 1 cm in length and parallel to one another at right angles to the pleura.
What are Kerley B lines on a chest xray?
Kerley B lines, or septal lines are a sign of interstitial oedema. They represent thickening of the interlobular septa of the periphery of the lungs. If you see Kerley B lines on a chest X-ray in suspected heart failure, then they are a very helpful sign to help diagnose interstitial oedema.
What causes Kerley a lines?
They are caused by distension of anastomotic channels between peripheral and central lymphatics of the lungs. Kerley A lines are less commonly seen than Kerley B lines. Kerley A lines are never seen without Kerley B or C lines. Kerley B lines in a patient with congestive heart failure.
What are the Kerley B lines in congestive heart failure?
Kerley B lines in a patient with congestive heart failure. These are short parallel lines at the lung periphery. These lines represent interlobular septa, which are usually less than 1 cm in length and parallel to one another at right angles to the pleura.

When do you see Kerley B lines?
Septal lines, also known as Kerley lines, are seen when the interlobular septa in the pulmonary interstitium become prominent. This may be because of lymphatic engorgement or edema of the connective tissues of the interlobular septa. They usually occur when pulmonary capillary wedge pressure reaches 20-25 mmHg.
What do Kerley B lines suggest?
Causes of Kerley B lines include pulmonary edema, lymphangitis carcinomatosa and malignant lymphoma, viral and mycoplasmal pneumonia, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, and sarcoidosis. They can be an evanescent sign on the chest x-ray of a patient in and out of heart failure.
What do B lines indicate?
B lines, previously termed ''comet tails,” are vertical hyperechoic reverberations moving synchronously with the lung and represent key artifacts in interpreting pulmonary ultrasound findings [3,4]. The physiologic basis of B lines relates to decreased lung aeration [5], a finding that is nonspecific.
What are a lines and B lines?
The A-line is a horizontal artifact indicating a normal lung surface. The B-line is a kind of comet-tail artifact indicating subpleural interstitial edema. The relationship between anterior interstitial edema detected by lung ultrasound and the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) value was investigated.
What is Hamptons hump?
Hampton's hump is a radiological sign consisting of a peripheral, wedge-shaped opacification adjacent to the pleural surface, which represents pulmonary infarction distal to a pulmonary embolus. 1. Owing to good pulmonary perfusion from collateral blood vessels, this sign is rarely seen in clinical practice.
How would you describe pulmonary edema on CXR?
On CXR, there is increase in pulmonary parenchymal opacification with Kerley lines, peribronchial cuffing, enlarged pulmonary arteries, with a normal sized left ventricle, normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, enlarged pulmonary artery (PA), and right heart. Pleural and pericardial effusions are usually present.
How do you find B lines?
4:578:06Lung Ultrasound: Understanding B Lines and Hepatization - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe see B lines at the top of the screen. And we see our rep shadows. And. We can see those B linesMoreWe see B lines at the top of the screen. And we see our rep shadows. And. We can see those B lines extending from the pleural line all the way down to the far field.
Are B lines comet tails?
Comet-tails or “B-lines” are defined as hyperechoic reflections which originate only from and travel roughly perpendicular to the pleural line of the lung. They have a narrow base and form a ray spreading away from the transducer towards the bottom of the screen and synchronously move with lung respiration.
How many B lines is normal?
Less than 2 B lines in any given region can be a normal finding; 3 or more B lines in any given region is pathologic (Wet Lung).
What is lung sliding?
Lung sliding is the respirophasic shimmering to and fro movement of the visceral and parietal pleural surface. The presence of lung sliding indicates that the lung is fully inflated at the site of probe placement on the chest wall, so there is no pneumothorax at that examination site.
What is lung point pneumothorax?
The lung point sign is an ultrasonographic pleural phenomenon that occurs at the site where pneumothorax ends and normal contact between the parietal and visceral pleura is restored.
What is alveolar interstitial syndrome?
The alveolar-interstitial syndrome (AIS) of the lung includes several heterogeneous conditions with diffuse involvement of the interstitium and impairment of the alveolocapillary exchange capacity, which leads to more or less severe respiratory failure.
What are Kerley A and Kerley B lines?
Kerley A lines are linear opacities extending from the periphery to the hila caused by distention of anastomotic channels between peripheral and central lymphatics. Kerley B lines are small, horizontal, peripheral straight lines demonstrated at the lung bases that represent thickened interlobular septa on CXR.
What causes B lines on ultrasound?
In the presence of extravascular lung water (EVLW), the ultrasound beam finds subpleural interlobular septa thickened by edema. The reflection of the beam creates some comet-tail reverberation artifacts, called B-lines or ultrasound lung comets.
What is the difference between Hydrothorax and pleural effusion?
Hydrothorax is a type of pleural effusion in which transudate accumulates in the pleural cavity. This condition is most likely to develop secondary to congestive heart failure, following an increase in hydrostatic pressure within the lungs.
What is pleural effusion in lungs?
Pleural effusion, sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” is the build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing.
What are Kerley A lines?
Kerley A lines are linear opacities extending from the periphery to the hila caused by distention of anastomotic channels between peripheral and central lymphatics. Kerley B lines are small, horizontal, peripheral straight lines demonstrated at the lung bases that represent thickened interlobular septa on CXR.
When was Kerley B first used?
1954 – First eponymous use of ‘ lines B of Kerley ‘ made by JH Carmichael. – reported a high correlation between Kerley B lines and elevated pulmonary artery pressures in patients with mitral valve stenosis
Which line represents thickened interlobular septa?
1967 – ER Heitzman concluded that ‘lines A and C’ also represented thickened interlobular septa
What causes Kerley B lines?
Causes of Kerley B lines include pulmonary edema, lymphangitis carcinomatosa and malignant lymphoma, viral and mycoplasmal pneumonia, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, and sarcoidosis. They can be an evanescent sign on the chest x-ray of a patient in and out of heart failure.
Why are there Kerley A lines?
They are caused by distension of anastomotic channels between peripheral and central lymphatics of the lungs. Kerley A lines are less commonly seen than Kerley B lines. Kerley A lines are never seen without Kerley B or C lines. Kerley B lines in a patient with congestive heart failure.
What are the non-cardiac conditions that are associated with congestive heart failure?
They are suggestive for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure, but are also seen in various non-cardiac conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial deposition of heavy metal particles or carcinomatosis of the lung.
Where are the interlobular septa located?
These lines represent interlobular septa, which are usually less than 1 cm in length and parallel to one another at right angles to the pleura. They are located peripherally in contact with the pleura, but are generally absent along fissural surfaces.
What are septal lines?
Septal lines represent thickening of the interlobular septa – interstitial tissue which separates the secondary lobules at the peripheries of the lungs. Septal lines are a specific sign of interstitial oedema in the context of suspected left ventricular failure. Occasionally septal lines are seen in conditions which cause blockage ...
What are the lines in the lung called?
Pulmonary oedema may manifest with evidence of interstitial oedema (septal lines) or alveolar oedema (airspace shadowing/consolidation) Septal lines (also known as ‘Kerley B lines’) appear as horizontal lines which make contact with the edge of the lung.
