Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40936046›Full record

Observational studyJournal of ultrasound2025

Automatic approach for B-lines detection in lung ultrasound images using You Only Look Once algorithm.

Alberto Bottino, Chiara Botrugno, Ernesto Casciaro, Francesco Conversano, Aimé Lay-Ekuakille, Fiorella Anna Lombardi, Rocco Morello, Paola Pisani, Luigi Vetrugno, Sergio Casciaro

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of ultrasound, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Alberto BottinoDepartment of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
Chiara Botrugno *National Research Council - Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
Ernesto Casciaro *National Research Council - Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
Francesco Conversano *National Research Council - Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy. conversano@ifc.cnr.it.
Aimé Lay-Ekuakille *Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
Fiorella Anna Lombardi *National Research Council - Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
Rocco Morello *National Research Council - Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
Paola Pisani *National Research Council - Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
Luigi VetrugnoDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
Sergio CasciaroNational Research Council - Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeB-lines are among the key artifact signs observed in Lung Ultrasound (LUS), playing a critical role in differentiating pulmonary diseases and assessing overall lung condition. However, their accurate detection and quantification can be time-consuming and technically challenging, especially for less experienced operators. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a YOLO (You Only Look Once)-based algorithm for the automated detection of B-lines, offering a novel tool to support clinical decision-making. The proposed approach is designed to improve the efficiency and consistency of LUS interpretation, particularly for non-expert practitioners, and to enhance its utility in guiding respiratory management.

methodsIn this observational agreement study, 644 images from both anonymized internal and clinical online database were evaluated. After a quality selection step, 386 images remained available for analysis from 46 patients. Ground truth was established by blinded expert sonographer identifying B-lines within rectangular Region Of Interest (ROI) on each frame. Algorithm performances were assessed through Precision, Recall and F1 Score, whereas to quantify the agreement between the YOLO-based algorithm and the expert operator, weighted kappa (kw) statistics were employed.

resultsThe algorithm achieved a precision of 0.92 (95% CI 0.89-0.94), recall of 0.81 (95% CI 0.77-0.85), and F1-score of 0.86 (95% CI 0.83-0.88). The weighted kappa was 0.68 (95% CI 0.64-0.72), indicating substantial agreement algorithm and expert annotations.

conclusionsThe proposed algorithm has demonstrated its potential to significantly enhance diagnostic support by accurately detecting B-lines in LUS images.

Indexed as

AlgorithmsImage Interpretation, Computer-AssistedLungLung DiseasesAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedReproducibility of ResultsUltrasonographyB-linesDetection algorithmLung ultrasoundYou Only Look Once

Identifiers

PMID40936046
PMCPMC12675886

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.