Sonography of the chest in children.

Sonography is an extremely important tool in the evaluation of the chest in children. Its easy availability, versatility, and portability make it an obvious choice as the next diagnostic examination after an abnormal chest radiograph. Patience and meticulous technique coupled with good anatomic knowledge will produce useful studies. Sonography is equivalent and sometimes superior to CT because of its Doppler ability and superior fluid and tissue characterization. It is most helpful in the assessment of anterior and middle mediastinal masses, opaque chest, and pleural and juxta-diaphragmatic abnormalities; in the classification of perplexing radiographs; and in the assessment of peripheral chest lesions. Sonography provides guidance for diagnostic and therapeutic aspiration, providing not only excellent anatomic demonstration, tissue characterization, and vascular information but also immediate access to bacteriologic and tissue diagnosis when required.