In-depth thoracic ultrasound (TUS) findings in 34 patients undergoing pleural drainage for suspected malignant disease
| POST-DRAINAGE LUNG CHARACTERISATION | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free (n = 23) | Indeterminate (n = 5) | Non-expandable (n = 6) | ||
| Static TUS features | ||||
| Effusion side | Right | 11/23 | 5/5 | 5/6 |
| Left | 12/23 | 0/5 | 1/6 | |
| Effusion size | Moderate | 10/23 | 2/5 | 4/6 |
| Large | 13/23 | 3/5 | 2/6 | |
| Septations evident | 2/23 | 2/5 | 4/6 | |
| Parietal pleural thickening evident | 0/23 | 0/5 | 1/6 | |
| Visceral pleural thickening evident | 0/23 | 0/5 | 3/6 | |
| Distinct pleural nodularity evident | 5/23 | 4/5 | 2/6 | |
| Dynamic TUS features | ||||
| Paradoxical motion of diaphragm evident | 9/23 | 2/5 | 3/6 | |
| Free movement of atelectatic lung evident | 22/23 | 3/5 | 2/6 | |
| Clear inspiratory expansion of atelectatic lung evident | 7/23 | 0/5 | 0/6 | |
| M-mode motion of atelectatic lung (inspiratory hold, near or approaching TLC) | <0.8 mm; n (%) | 0/23 | 0/5 | 5/6 |
| 0.8–1.2 mm; n (%) | 7/23 | 3/5 | 1/6 | |
| >1.2 mm; n (%) | 16/23 | 2/5 | 0/6 | |
| M-mode motion of atelectatic lung (expiratory hold, near or approaching RV) | <0.8 mm; n (%) | 0/23 | 0/5 | 3/6 |
| 0.8–1.2 mm; n (%) | 2/23 | 1/5 | 3/6 | |
| >1.2 mm; n (%) | 21/23 | 4/5 | 0/6 | |