Squawk
  • A mixed breath sound consisting of a short musical component (brief wheeze) accompanied by or preceded by crackles.
  • Also termed a “short wheeze” or “squeak,” containing both musical and non-musical elements.
  • On sound analysis, appears as sinusoidal oscillations lasting <200 ms with a fundamental frequency of 200–300 Hz.
  • Thought to result from oscillation of peripheral airways in partially deflated lung regions during inspiration.
  • Typically heard from mid- to late inspiration in interstitial lung diseases, particularly hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
  • Not pathognomonic for ILD; also reported in bronchiectasis and pneumonia.

Reference

  1. Bohadana A, Izbicki G, Kraman SS. Fundamentals of lung auscultation. New England Journal of Medicine. 2014 Feb 20;370(8):744-51.
Back Close