[Seeing the sounds--chest and lung ultrasonography].

Chest ultrasonography was considered hampered and deficient but it is now taking a prominent role as a bedside tool for the diagnosis of lung ailments. Technological development has made it accurate, fast and reliable to the extent that it is gradually replacing the traditional chest X-ray and sometimes also the computed tomography scan. In this article we review and display in a few images the diagnostic possibilities of the thoracic ultrasound examination in a diverse range of maladies such as pneumonia, pulmonary congestion, pleural effusion and other conditions.