ROLE OF CHEST SONOGRAPHY IN DIAGNOSIS OF PLEURAL AND PLEURAL-BASED PULMONARY LESIONS

Abstract

The aim of this work was to identify the role ofsonogrnphy in identification and evaluation of chest diseases such as pleural abnormalities (e.g., pleural effusion, pleural masses) nnd opaque chest (e.g., consolidation, collapse). The.:: value ofultrnsound in the diagnosis of pleural and pleural-based pulmonary lesions was assessed in 20 patients with chest x-ray opacities. In pleural lesions, radiography was able to detect and more specific in diagnosis of hydropncumothor:lx than ultrasonography, while in simple pleural c1Tusion, encysted empyema, pleural mesothelioma, metastatic pleural e1Tusion and pleural fibrosis, ultrasonography was more accurate and specific in detecting the nature of the lesions than radiogrnphy. In pulmonary lesions, mdiography described them more accurate and specific than sonography. In pleural lesions, CT was able to diagnose a case of hydropneumothorax than sonography, while in free pleural effusion U.S was more specific in detecting the nature of the lesion than C.T. In encysted empyema and metastatic pleural effusion both C.T and U.S were equal in diagnosing the lesion. Pleural mesothelioma was diagnosed by both U.S and C.Twas more specific than U.S. In pleural fibrosis, U.S was more specific than C.T. In pulmonary lesions, C.T was both sensitive and specific in diagnosing the lesion than U.S. Sonography is much more sensitive in detecting of pleural effusion than the supine chest radiography, and is useful in determining the nature of the pleural effusion. The technique is simple, non­ invasive, and now, widely available. We believe that ultrasound is an important aid in the diagnosis of pleural and pleural based pulmonary lesions.