Ultrasound in medicine & biology
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Ultrasound Med Biol · Nov 2008
Diagnosis of radio-occult pulmonary conditions by real-time chest ultrasonography in patients with pleuritic pain.
The evaluation of pleuritic pain in the emergency department (ED) presents a considerable challenge for the attending physician. Chest radiography (CXR) is a basic test, but its sensitivity is low, and often more sophisticated imaging techniques are needed. Our aim is to assess the diagnostic value of bedside B-mode lung ultrasound (LUS) in the visualization of radio-occult pulmonary lesions. ⋯ They were PAC (n = 12), AIS (n = 17), pleural disruption (n = 17). If any sign is considered, the sensitivity of LUS in the diagnosis of radio-occult lesions was 94.7%, specificity was 96.7%, positive and negative predictive values were 94.7% and 96.7%, respectively, and accuracy was 95.9%. In patients with pleuritic pain of unknown cause, real-time LUS enables the diagnosis of radio-occult lung and pleural lesions.