This is an elderly female patient and a known case of carcinoma left lung. Left lower zone pleural effusion is seen in these ultrasound images of left hemi-thorax.
Medical literature classifies pleural effusion based on sonographic patterns as:
1) anechoic
2) complex septated
3) complex nonseptated
4) homogenous
Studies have been done to evaluate effusion in lung cancer and also in tuberculous lung infections.
In this case the pleural effusion is certainly the exudative type rather than transudate variety. Complex septate effusions are more common in tubcerculosis but are also seen in lung malignancy.
see: http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/content/25/7/857.full.pdf
Also visit: http://www.ultrasound-images.com/chest.htm#Case-2:_septate_pleural_effusion
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