Transbronchial Ultrasonographic Diagnosis

Abstract

A transbronchial ultrasonographic diagnosis was performed 18 cases with lesions in the lungs and the mediastinum in order to analyze the foci around the airway. The transducer used was a convex type with a transmission frequency of 7.5 MHz. The maximam diameter of the tip is 12 mm and the resulting sector fild has divergence of 34°. After local anesthesia, similar to that used in routine bronchofiberscopy, the transducer was orally led into the airway by the bronchofiberscope which was introduced nasally. The location of the transducer in the airway was confirmed by X-ray TV fluoroscope. The contact betwen the transducer and the airway was obtained by pressing an up-down maneuverable tip into the wall. Trans-airway access enabled observation of the mediastinum and the hilar region around the airway without effects due to the air present in the airway. The thoracic aorta, truncus brachiocephalicus and pulmonary artery were well visualized and the possibility of detecting vascular invasion of tumor was suggested. The mediastinal pleura was clealy observed and T 3, as distinguished from T 4, could be diagnosed through observation pleural invasion of lung cancer. Tumors could be distinguished from lymph nodes.