23/07/2026
The Value of Transthoracic ultrasound
An 80-year-old male, heavy smoker with known COPD, presented with progressive dyspnea and significant weight loss over the past few months.
Chest CT demonstrated a right upper lobe mass with invasion of the mediastinum and chest wall, in addition to elevation of the right hemidiaphragm suggesting phrenic nerve affection.
Bedside chest ultrasound revealed:
- An ill-defined heterogeneous lung mass
- Mixed central and peripheral vascularity on Color Flow Doppler, consistent with a viable neoplastic lesion
Given the peripheral extension of the tumor, an ultrasound-guided Tru-Cut biopsy was performed under local anesthesia, providing a minimally invasive route to obtain diagnostic tissue.
Histopathological examination confirmed:
- Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC)
The specimen was subsequently sent for immunohistochemistry and molecular profiling to guide personalized treatment.
Following tissue diagnosis, the patient was referred to the Oncology department for complete staging and individualized management.
