Correct!
4. The thoracic ultrasound shows complex right pleural fluid
The thoracic ultrasound shows mixed echogenicity right-sided pleural fluid (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Serial longitudinal ultrasound images shows mixed echogenicity material (single arrowheads) superior to the right diaphragm (hyperechoic line indicated by double arrowheads). The liver (L) is seen caudal to the diaphragm and right thorax.
The fluid is significantly complex. However, the material is not solid- note the areas of increased echogenicity posterior to the material, representing sound transmission, indicating the at least partial fluid nature of the material. The liver is clearly depicted caudal to an intact diaphragm, so there is no evidence to suggest diaphragmatic hernia. Furthermore, there are no features to suggest pleural space gas- such as ring-down artifact (the “comet-tail” sign).
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