DIFFERENTIAL ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSES OF PULMONARY BENIGN AND MALIGNANT SPACE-OCCUPIED LESIONS OF THE PERIPHERAL-TYPE

87 patients with pulmonary space-occupied lesions of the peripheral ty pe which were either adhesive or close to pleura were examined using u ltuasonography. Of them, 64 cases of lung cancers and 23 of benign les ions were then confirmed by histopathology. Five sonographic features, including configuration, echogenicity patterns, bronchial air phase i n foci, margin, and pleural involvement, were significantly different between malignant and benign diseases (P<0.01). The differential ultra sonography used in this series showed a sensitivity of 61% (14/23), a specificity of 95% (61/64), and an accuracy of 86% (75/87). The result s of the study demonstrate that the ultrasonography is helpful in diff erentiating malignant and benign peripheral lung lesions near the pler ua.