Ultrasound Evaluation of Hemidiaphragm Function Following Thoracentesis: A Study on Mechanisms of Dyspnea Related to Pleural Effusion.

BACKGROUND: Dyspnea is the major symptom caused by pleural effusion. The pathophysiological pathways leading to dyspnea are poorly understood. Dysfunction of respiratory mechanics may be a factor. We aimed to study the change in diaphragmatic function following thoracentesis. METHODS: Patients undergoing thoracentesis at a highly specialized pleural center, underwent ultrasound evaluation of hemidiaphragm movement, before and after thoracentesis was performed. The change was compared to the reduction of dyspnea measured at the modified Borg scale. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included. Dyspnea was reduced from 5.01 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.12-6.04] to 2.6 (95% CI: 1.87-3.4, P<0.0001). Low hemidiaphragmatic movement before thoracentesis on the side of pleural effusion was improved by 17.4 cm (95% CI: 13.04-21.08), equalizing movement to the side without pleural effusion. On average, 1283 mL (SD: 469) fluid was drained. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that prethoracentesis ultrasound evaluation of hemidiaphragmatic function was correlated with successful thoracentesis. CONCLUSION: Hemidiaphragm function is reduced on the side of pleural effusion, and thoracentesis restores function. Improvement in diaphragm movement is related to a reduction in dyspnea.

Internal Mammary Lymph Node Visualization as a Sentinel Sonographic Sign of Tuberculous Pleurisy.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous pleurisy is one of the primary sites of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, but clinicians currently lack the diagnostic tools necessary for early recognition in the absence of typical signs and symptoms. With this study, we aimed to test the association between internal mammary adenopathies and tuberculous pleurisy (TP). METHODS: 60 patients with a post-thoracoscopic histological diagnosis of granulomatosis or acute infective pleurisy were retrospectively enrolled. All of them had chest sonography and/or CT scan data available. At least two expert chest sonography physicians re-analyzed the sonography images to look for any internal mammary adenopathy. Such findings were compared to the CT data. RESULTS: Chest sonography showed internal mammary adenopathy ipsilateral to the pleural effusion in 97 % of 29 patients who had a diagnosis of TP, and in 13 % of those with an acute infective pleurisy (p < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristic analysis revealed 97 % sensitivity and 87 % specificity for this technique in predicting TP (area under curve 0.92 ± 0.04, p < 0.001). CT detection power and node measures were significantly similar (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Sonographic internal mammary node visualization ipsilateral to the pleural effusion may become a sentinel sign for TP, contributing to early diagnosis or orienting the diagnostic management towards invasive procedures in uncertain cases.

New insights in the use of pleural ultrasonography for diagnosis and treatment of pleural disease.

The use of transthoracic ultrasound (US) has acquired a wide consensus among respiratory physicians during the last few years. The development of portable devices promotes patient's bedside evaluation providing rapid, real-time and low-cost diagnostic information. The different acoustic impedance between different tissues and organs produces artifacts known as A lines, B lines, sliding sign, lung point, etc. The identification of such artifacts is essential to discriminate normal pleural appearance from the presence of pleural effusion, pneumothorax, thickenings and tumors. Ultrasounds are also a valuable tool during interventional procedures, such as thoracentesis, chest tube insertion and transcutaneous biopsy. Its use is recommended before medical thoracoscopy in order to assess the best site of trocar insertion according to presence, quantity and characteristics of pleural effusion. The aim of this review is to provide practical tips on chest ultrasound in clinical and interventional respiratory practice.

Medical thoracoscopy: Analysis on diagnostic yield through 30 years of experience.

BACKGROUND: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) or pleuroscopy is a procedure performed to diagnose and treat malignant and benign pleural diseases. Totally 2752 pleuroscopies executed in 1984-2013 in our center were considered in this study. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed. Observational time was divided into six series of 5 years. We calculated MT diagnostic yield and analyzed trends of main diseases diagnosed along the time. RESULTS: Along the 30 years population became progressively older. Number of pleuroscopies firstly increased, then stabilized and decreased in the last 5 years. The overall diagnostic yield of MT was 71%, increasing from 57% to 79%. The diagnostic yield was significantly higher in the presence of monolateral pleural effusion. Cancer represented more than half of diagnosis; tuberculosis was the most common nonneoplastic disease. The frequency of all cancers, mesothelioma, and lung cancer increased through the time; tuberculosis first decreased and then increased. All specimens resulted appropriate during the last 25 years. CONCLUSION: MT has a great diagnostic yield that can be improved by practice, permitting to achieve a specific histological diagnosis in about 80% of patients. Our experience demonstrates that the accurate selection of the patients undergoing to MT is very important to reach these results.

Pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Sarcoidosis is a common disease that involve almost constantly the lung. Usually the onset is insidious, and symptoms are slowly ingravescent. Very rarely, as in the case here reported, sarcoidosis can cause an acute respiratory failure with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A 20-year-old girl from Pakistan presented for acute fatigue, fever, and cough with a chest X-ray displayed the micronodular interstitial disease. Despite of anti-tuberculosis therapy, ARDS developed in a few days requiring continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Examinations on transbronchial specimens obtained by bronchoscopy permitted to reach the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and steroid therapy improved rapidly clinical conditions. This is the first case report reported in Europe that confirms the rare onset of sarcoidosis as ARDS. Steroid therapy allows to cure rapidly this severe complication.

Medical thoracoscopy in MALT lymphoma causing pleural effusion: A case report.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a form of low-grade malignant B-cell extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is classified as marginal-zone lymphoma and represents less than 1% of all lung cancer. We describe a case of MALT lymphoma limited exclusively to the lung that came to our attention with infective pleural effusion and concomitant lung consolidation of the left lower lobe. Our case demonstrates that MALT can begin with an acute clinical presentation. The clinical scenario, with fever, parietal chest pain, and leukocytosis, suggested an infective process. Radiological and sonographic examinations and the endoscopic aspect during medical thoracoscopy (MT) were typical of an infective etiology. The histological outcome of non-specific inflammatory pleuritis confirmed our suppositions. However, the missing resolution of lung consolidation after several weeks led us to an alternative diagnosis. Parenchymal biopsies obtained by bronchoscopy allowed us to reach the correct diagnosis: MALT lymphoma limited to the lung.

Ultrasound-guided medical thoracoscopy in the absence of pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that permits the study of the pleural space. The presence of pleural adhesions is the most important contraindication to performing MT. Lesions of the pleura in absence of pleural effusion are usually studied in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with preoperative ultrasound evaluation. No data are available about ultrasound-guided MT in the absence of pleural effusion. METHODS: From January 2007 to June 2013, 622 consecutive MTs were performed under ultrasound guidance without inducing a pneumothorax. A retrospective cohort of 29 patients affected by pleural diseases without fluid was reviewed. The fifth or sixth intercostal spaces along the midaxillary line with a good echographic "sliding sign" and normal appearance of the pleural line were chosen as the entry site. The pleural cavity was explored, and biopsies were performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patient cohort was 62.8 years; there were 20 male patients and nine female patients. Pleural adherences were avoided, and adequate number of pleural biopsies were performed. No parenchymal lung injuries, bleeding, or hematoma occurred. Seventeen patients had a completely free pleural cavity, four patients had a single pleural adhesion, and eight had multiple pleural adhesions; in all cases, however, endoscopic exploration was possible and biopsy specimens were adequate. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis was malignant pleural mesothelioma. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that thoracic ultrasound accurately identifies intrathoracic adhesions and, in experienced hands, can guide MT access, replacing the VATS approach, even in the complete absence of pleural effusion.