Thoracic Ultrasound

Transthoracic ultrasonography for the assessment of non-cardiac related thoracic disease in small animals has become a valuable diagnostic procedure.

One advantage of transthoracic ultrasound is that the thoracic wall and the surface of the lung and to some extent the pleura can be examined with transthoracic ultrasound in animals.

This can be used to detect small amounts of free fluid, examine the internal structures of the thorax in the presence of larger amounts of pleural fluid, detect mediastinal masses, characterize pulmonary masses, examine the pleural surface or suspicion of lung lobe torsion and guide thoracocentesis for tissue sampling or fluid removal. 

Furthermore, the technique can be used to assess thoracic wall lesions, rib masses and the diaphragm. The main limitations to examination of the thorax include pneumothorax and the aerated lung.

Cranial mediastinal, thoracic, and peripheral solid lung masses can usually be well visualized transthoracically and sampling can, in many instances, also be performed.

Thoracic ultrasound is also extremely useful in aiding the placement of catheters and drains for therapeutic thoracocentesis, pericardiocentesis and pneumothorax management.

If you have any questions or think that one of you patients might need transthoracic investigations, please feel free to get in touch and we can provide you with advice on the most appropriate course of action.

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ellen@soundwaveimaging.co.uk