[The examination technic and indications for mediastinal sonography].

The purpose of this report is to describe the technique of suprasternal and parasternal mediastinal sonography. Via the suprasternal approach, the supraaortic region, the paratracheal region and the aorticopulmonary window can be evaluated. The parasternal approach in right and left decubitus position is suitable for imaging the anterior mediastinum, pericardial and subcarinal spaces. The proportion of technically inadequate examinations of the different mediastinal compartments varies between 4 and 15%. The main indications for mediastinal sonography are described from our experience in the last 4 years.