Ultrasonic evaluation of radiographic opacities of the chest.

The nature of pleural based radiographic opacities in the chest can be uncertain; however, ultrasonic examination provides a reliable means of distinguishing solid from fluid-containing lesions. It is superior to both fluoroscopy and radiography in accurately localizing loculated fluid collections for thoracentesis and can be performed with commercially available gray scale contact scanning equipment. Cases representing a spectrum of clinical applications are discussed.