ABSTRACT
Ultrasound (US)-guided transthoracic needle biopsy is an underutilized technique with an excellent safety record. US-guided biopsy is especially suitable for peripheral lung lesions and some anterior mediastinal masses, both of which are frequently beyond the reach of bronchoscopic biopsy techniques. The anterior mediastinum is usually inaccessible to US imaging due to obscuration by overlying bone or aerated lung. Basic requirements for the safe and successful practice of US-guided transthoracic needle biopsy include a cooperative patient, the availability of appropriate equipment, and proficiency in the field of chest ultrasonography. The pulmonologist must be familiar with all aspects of transthoracic pleural and pulmonary US, and must be able to correlate computed tomography images of the chest with US findings. Chest US should be performed with convex array transducers with a frequency range of 2 to 5 MHz. The convex shape of these transducers facilitates scanning through the intercostal spaces.
