Indications for ultrasound of the chest.

Although ultrasound of the thorax has been used mainly for studying the heart, it is also of value for the examination of pathologic conditions in the chest other than cardiac disease and can be used to complement the diagnostic information obtained by other imaging techniques. In addition, ultrasound of the lower thorax is frequently performed "inadvertently" when the upper abdomen, the liver, and the heart are being examined sonographically. Pathologic lesions in the chest may be seen during such examinations and it is therefore important to be familiar with their appearances.