Peripheral pulmonary lesions: ultrasonic features and ultrasonically guided fine needle aspiration biopsy.

When transthoracic biopsy is required for diagnosing lung diseases, radiographic procedures are the methods of choice, sonographic application being still limited. Sixty-four consecutive patients with pulmonary lesions adjacent to the chest wall underwent sonography. Findings showed hypoechoic homogeneous lesions (56 cases) with posterior regular margin (57 cases). Increasing echoes deep to the mass and sonographic interruption of hyperechoic surface were seen in all patients. In two cases, chest wall invasion had been diagnosed. Histologic diagnosis was made in 55 of the 64 patients (85.9%). Two pneumothoraces occurred. Sonography is a useful, accurate, and safe technique for diagnosing selected pulmonary lesions.