Whispered pectoriloquy refers to an increased loudness of whispering while the physician is listening using a stethoscope on the lung fields on a patient's back.^[1]

Usually sounds of this volume would not be heard when whispered. It is a test performed during a medical physical examination to evaluate for the presence of lung consolidation, which could be caused by cancer or pneumonia.

Contents 1 Related tests 2 History 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Related tests

The test is similar to the test for bronchophony and egophony. In bronchophony, the physician often asks the patient to whisper “ninety-nine” or "sixty-six" while listening over the lung fields: the sound will be louder in areas where consolidation is present.

[edit] 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 "neun und neunzig" (IPA /nɔʏ̯nʊntnɔʏ̯ntsɪç/), which he chose because it contains diphthongs, calculated to cause maximum vibration of the chest. The translation, "ninety-nine", has fewer vowels and is less effective in evoking the phenomenon.^[2] Better phrases in English include "toy boat”, "Scooby Doo", and “blue balloons".

[edit] See also

• vocal fremitus

[edit] References

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v • d • e Symptoms and signs: respiratory system (R04-R07, 786) Hemorrhage Epistaxis · Hemoptysis Abnormalities of breathing Respiratory sounds: Stridor · Wheeze · Rales · Rhonchi · Hamman's sign Dyspnea · Hyperventilation/Hypoventilation · Hyperpnea/Tachypnea/Bradypnea · Orthopnea/Platypnea Biot's respiration · Cheyne-Stokes respiration · Kussmaul breathing Hiccup · Mouth breathing/Snoring Other Asphyxia · Cough · Pleurisy · Sputum Respiratory arrest · Hypercapnia/Hypocapnia Pectoriloquy: Whispered pectoriloquy · Egophony · Bronchophony Pleural friction rub Fremitus Chest, general Chest pain respiratory system navs: anat nose,larynx/lower+thoracic cavity/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/tumors, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc