[Sonographic differentiation of pulmonary opacities (author's transl)].

Sonography offers a supplementary diagnostic method in cases where X-ray examination has established the presence of opacities in the lungs. Simple criteria generally allow differentiation between solid and liquid structures and thus to distinguish between effusions, haematoma, empyema and adhesions and tumors. - Sonographically directed needle biopsies following the sonographic localization of encysted effusions or a tumor ensure the correct site of puncture and provide the means to establish the diagnosis histologically, cytologically and bacteriologically.