Chest sonography

Palpable nodules at the chest wall (e.g lymph nodes) and rib fractures can be characteristically visualized by ultrasound. The simplest method and mos t sensitive technique to image and measure pleural fluid is ultrasound. Son ographic evidence of pleural nodules is a specific finding in patients with malignant effusions. Peripheral pulmonary consolidations are visible by ul trasound if they extend up to the pleura. One can image pleuritis, pneumoni a, lung cancers, pulmonary infarction, and atelectasis in typical sonomorph ology, but limited specificity. Ultrasound guided transthoracic puncture is minimally stressfull for the patient, is accurate, has a low rate of compl ications and is also costeffective.