The Diagnostic Performance of Chest Ultrasonography in the Up-to-date Workup in Patients with Chest Diseases

Background: Application of chest radiography for all patients with chest diseases is associated with a significant increase in total costs, exposure to radiation, and overcrowding of the emergency department in case of emergency. Ultrasound has been introduced as an alternative diagnostic tool in this regard. The aim of the work is to determine sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasonography as an easy and fast form of imagery for different thoracic conditions.

Results: This prospective study was carried out on sixty patients. The majority of patients presented with lung masses (20%) and pleural effusion (16.7%). Chest US findings showed great concordance or agreement with the chest CT findings. The only lower concordance is noted in the diagnosis of pulmonary nodules or mass, where chest US reported pulmonary nodules or mass in 33.3% of patients compared to 46.7%% by chest CT. US showed a highly comparable diagnostic performance in chest-related pathological entities, compared to chest CT. Chest US had 100% sensitivity in detecting all pathological chest entities except for lung collapse (83.3%) and pulmonary nodules (71.4%). However, chest US was more specific than sensitive. It had 100% specificity in all pathological entities except for lung collapse consolidation. Chest US had 100% diagnostic accuracy in all chest-related pathological entities except for lung collapse consolidation and pulmonary nodules or masses. However, when presenting these findings among male and female patients, Chest US had better overall diagnostic accuracy among female patients than male patients.

Conclusion: US examination of the chest is a noninvasive and promising bedside tool for the examination of respiratory problems patients. Consequently, chest ultrasonography can be adjoined in the up-to-date work-up of the outpatients as an ancillary tool aiding in disease diagnosis.