In its mildest form, a thickened an

In its mildest form, a thickened and irregular pleural line is observed. When more severe, but not yet translobar, aerated lung remains deep to the consolidated lung region creating an irregular consolidation/air interface referred to as the “shred sign”. Comet tail artifacts can often be seen arising deep to the consolidated tissue (where it meets aerated lung) extending distally through the far field of the ultrasound image. When the consolidation affects the depth of a region of lung lobe, or the entire lung lobe, traslobar lung hepatization is observed, which is the most pronounced form of consolidation. These consolidations appear to have diagnostic value in aspiration pneumonia, and could be useful for treatment monitoring, although further studies are required to confirm these findings.