Correct!
1. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis
The enhanced CT findings are relatively nonspecific, and hence tissue sampling is appropriate. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis is the least invasive method for such sampling. Both medical pleuroscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery are effective methods for evaluating pleural space abnormalities but may not be required if sampling of the right pleural fluid yields management-directing information. Again, although both pulmonary function testing and 18FDG – PET scan could be of benefit, tissue sampling stands the greatest chance of providing useful information.
The patient ultrasound-guided thoracentesis (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Transthoracic ultrasound of the right pleural space.
Which of the following represents an appropriate interpretation for this examination? (Click on the correct answer to be directed to the seventh of seventeen pages)