Accuracy of Transthoracic Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Different Pleural and Pulmonary Diseases: Zagazig University Experience

Abstract

Recently, there is an increase application of chest ultrasound to evaluate and monitor pleuropulmonary diseases. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for most different lung pathologies with limitations. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of Chest Ultrasound compared to Computed Tomography in diagnosis of different pleuropulmonary disorders and to define the rules of chest ultrasound in pulmonary medicine. This study was conducted upon randomly selected 110 patients with different pleuropulmonary disorders who were admitted to the respiratory ward and ICU, Zagazig University Hospitals, from April 2018 to April 2020. All patients with abnormal chest X. ray opacities were evaluated for complete history taking, full clinical examination, laboratory investigations, then Chest US was performed on the first day of admission then CT was done as a gold standard for the final diagnosis then results of both Chest US and CT were compared. Compared to CT, Chest US had sensitivity (95.8%) for free pleural effusion diagnosis, specificity (90.3%), and (92.7%) accuracy; for pneumonia, (90.9%), (96.1%), and (94.5%) respectively, while pneumothorax had (81.8%), (98%), and (96.3%) accuracy, respectively; for pulmonary edema, (89.5%), (97.8%), and (96.4%) accuracy, respectively. The US plays a valuable role in the diagnosis of different pleuropulmonary diseases and can be used as the first routine radiological modality in both ward & ICU.