SONOGRAPHIC LUNG SURFACE EVALUATION IN PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

The value of sonography in lung diseases such as sarcoidosis is not es tablished. Twelve patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and eight contro l subjects underwent a sonographic examination using a high frequency probe (7.5 MHz). The normal lung surface showed smooth and regular hyp erechoic patterns, respiratory motions, and occasionally minute interr uptions with comet tails. All patients with sarcoidosis showed various surface abnormalities, which appeared irregular and rough with coarse interruptions, producing an increase of artifacts. Nodular patterns w ere found in nine of 12 patients (75%). Sonography also revealed abnor malities not diagnosed by chest radiographs (n = 2). These findings co uld offer an complementary approach for evaluating sarcoidosis.