After the invention of the stethoscope by Laënnec in 1816, the nomenclature for lung sounds was spread without following a specific structure, becoming confusing and lacking precision. Since 1985 a great effort has been made to reach a terminology standardization, based on physical patterns such as frequency, duration, and amplitude. The evaluation of the terminology employed by Brazilian pneumologists in reported cases is the object of this study. A retrospective study of reported cases published in Jornal de Pneumologia has been performed between 1985 and 1997, regarding the pulmonary auscultation described. The data were compared to those proposed by the Symposium on Lung Sounds, in 1985. Out of 131 cases, 72 reported altered pulmonary auscultation, presenting 30 distinctive denominations for lung sounds. It is, therefore, easy to notice that pneumologists are not yet familiar with the current nomenclature. It is important to highlight that 31 cases did not report pulmonary auscultation even in a pneumology publication, which serves to show the underestimation of the method. Pulmonary auscultation is a quick, non-invasive, low-cost, and great clinical guiding means which must be recognized among other techniques applied for diagnosis.

Keywords: Auscultation. Stethoscope. Respiratory sounds. Nomenclature.