Whispered pectoriloquy

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Whispered pectoriloquy
Differential diagnosispneumonia, cancer (solid mass)

Whispered pectoriloquy refers to an increased loudness of whispering noted during auscultation with a stethoscope on the lung fields on a patient's torso.[1]

Usually spoken sounds of a whispered volume by the patient would not be heard by the clinician auscultating a lung field with a stethoscope. However, in areas of the lung where there is

lung consolidation
, causes of which include cancer (solid mass) and pneumonia (fluid mass).

Related tests

The whispered pectoriloquy test is similar to

lung consolidation
.

In UK bronchophony is often called "vocal resonance" and is similar to "tactile vocal fremitus" (TVF); the difference being that in TVF the sensor is the edge of the hand. All three - whispering pectoriloquy, TVF and vocal resonance - fulfill the same purpose, to distinguish between consolidation and pleural effusion, both of which cause dullness to percussion. This does not mean that these tests are not necessary if there is no abnormal dullness to percussion because the likelihood ratio (as well as sensitivity and specificity) of each test is different[3]

History

The choice of "ninety-nine" is the unfortunate result of a literal translation. The test was originally described by a German physician who used the phrase "neunundneunzig" (pronounced [ˈnɔʏnʊntˈnɔʏntsɪç]), which he found would cause maximum vibration of the chest. The translation, "ninety-nine", has fewer vowels and is less effective in evoking the phenomenon.[4] Better phrases in English include "toy boat", "Scooby Doo", and "blue balloons".[5]

Etymology

'Pectoriloquy' is derived from the Latin words pectus or pectoris meaning chest or breast, and -loquy or loquor which means to speak.[6]


See also

  • Vocal fremitus
  • Tactile fremitus

References

  1. ^ "PT 630 - Breath Sounds".
  2. ^ Bates, Barbara; et al. "Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking". Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  3. .
  4. .
  5. .
  6. ^ "Pectoriloquy - Wiktionary".