[Para-pleural lung lesions: diagnostic value of sonography versus computerized tomography]

45 patients with pleural and/or peripheral lung lesions detected by chest radiography were examined by chest ultrasound. A chest CT-scan was obtained as a reference method afterwards. In 43 pleural or peripheral lung lesions we found corresponding results comparing size, invasivity and nature comparing the two diagnostic methods. In 35 of 41 cases an ultrasound (US)-guided needle biopsy confirmed the preliminary diagnosis suspected after sonography of the chest. Six needle biopsies allowed no definite diagnosis. Two patients developed a pneumothorax that required drainage after US-guided needle biopsy.

Real-time sonography of the chest and chest CT-scans are complementary methods examining pleural and peripheral lung lesions, corresponding results are demonstrated in respect of location, size, invasivity and nature of the lesions.