A study on ultrasonic evaluation of plural effusion for diagnosis and it’s Comparision with chest X-ray

Pleural effusion is excess fluid that accumulates between the two pleural layers, the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs. Excessive amounts of such fluid can impair breathing by limiting the expansion of the lungs during ventilation. This is an open label, comparative, analytical interventional and prospective study done in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Government Medical College Hospital, Kota during period Oct. 2013 to Sept. 2014. On the basis of history, clinical examination and various investigation 100 study cases of pleural effusion were taken from Respiratory medicine ward. The aim of study to evaluate the role of ultrasonography in diagnosis of pleural effusion and its comparison to chest radiography. In our study, we were able to diagnose pleural effusion in 63 patients. Out of these cases; 47 (75%) cases had effusion in right sided, 14 (22%) had left sided while 2 (4%) had bilateral effusion. The majority of cases had minimal effusion occupying less than 1/3rd of hemi thorax. USG diagnosed 96 cases of pleural effusion; 65 (68%) cases had right sided pleural effusion, 22 (23%) had left sided effusion and 9 (10%) were bilateral effusion. An analysis of data obtained, we concluded that chest radiograph had a sensitivity of 66%, specificity 81%, while USG had a sensitivity of 96%, specificity 100% and diagnostic accuracy of 100%. Thus ultrasonography is superior in diagnosis of pleural effusion by detecting 33 extra cases.