[Usefulness of chest sonography in a respiratory medicine unit]

Chest ultrasound, a diagnostic technique used mainly by radiologists, is useful for managing pleural effusion. Sonography and computed tomography (CT) are complementary, although the former is more accessible to clinicians because it is safe and easy to use and because results are available quickly. We evaluated the utility of chest sonograms in a respiratory medicine unit managed by pneumologists. During the period under study, requests for CT scans to manage complicated pleural effusions decreased as the use of sonograms increased. We conclude that ultrasound imaging is useful in the hands of pneumologists who use the technique to diagnose pleural effusions.