文摘
Transthoracic and endobronchial ultrasound play an important role in the diagnostics and staging in patients with lung cancer. Transthoracic ultrasonography facilitates the evaluation of lung lesions adhering to the pleura and chest wall, pleural effusions, supraclavicular lymph node enlargements and osteolysis. Endobronchial ultrasound allows the detection of peripheral lung lesions and tumor infiltration of the tracheobronchial wall. In combination with transesophageal ultrasound, endobronchial ultrasound enables full mediastinal staging. Through sonographic imaging a targeted cytological or histological sampling can be achieved.