Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 12, Issue 7 369-374, Copyright © 1993 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Peripheral pulmonary lesions: ultrasonic features and ultrasonically guided fine needle aspiration biopsy
R. Targhetta, J. M. Bourgeois, C. Marty-Double, E. Coste, A. Proust, P. Balmes and L. Pourcelot
Department of Pulmonary and Internal Medicine, Montpellier-Nimes University Hospital, France.
When transthoracic biopsy is required for diagnosing lung diseases,
radiographic procedures are the methods of choice, sonographic application
being still limited. Sixty-four consecutive patients with pulmonary lesions
adjacent to the chest wall underwent sonography. Findings showed hypoechoic
homogeneous lesions (56 cases) with posterior regular margin (57 cases).
Increasing echoes deep to the mass and sonographic interruption of
hyperechoic surface were seen in all patients. In two cases, chest wall
invasion had been diagnosed. Histologic diagnosis was made in 55 of the 64
patients (85.9%). Two pneumothoraces occurred. Sonography is a useful,
accurate, and safe technique for diagnosing selected pulmonary lesions.