International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research  |  e-ISSN: 2582-8940  |  Double-Blind Peer Review  |  Open Access  |  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Current Issues
     2026:7/4

International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research

e-ISSN: 2582-8940 | Open Access

Comparative Analysis of Thoracic Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced CT in Diagnosing Pleural Empyema: A Cross Sectional Study

Mamta Rani, Subhash C Sylonia, Umesh C Garga, Ashish Choudhary, Sumit Kumar Ghosh

Post Graduate Student, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India; Professor and HOD, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India; Professor in Radiodiagnosis, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India; Assistant Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Article Information

Volume / Issue6 / 3 (July-September 2025)
Pages242-245
AccessOpen Access

Publication Timeline

  • Received12 July 2025
  • Accepted13 August 2025
  • Published

Full Text (PDF)

Open Access - Free to Download

Download Full Article (PDF) JATS XML

Abstract

Background: Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) and contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) are integral in pleural empyema diagnosis.
Objective: To compare diagnostic yield, accuracy, and clinical utility of TUS vs CECT in confirmed empyema.
Methods: Cross-sectional study done on 80 adult patients with suspected empyema presenting to Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur Casualty, IPD or OPD. Patients underwent TUS and CECT Thorax. Sensitivity/specificity for effusion, septation, loculation, and split pleura sign were calculated. Procedural guidance, safety, cost, and time to intervention were evaluated.
Results: TUS detected effusions in 98%, septations in 85%, and loculations in 83%. CECT detected septations in 60% and split pleura in 75%. Sensitivity of TUS vs CECT: effusion (98% vs 90%), septation (85% vs 60%), loculation (83% vs 65%). TUS enabled bedside drainage in 92% and avoided CECT in 60% of patients.
Conclusion: TUS demonstrated superior sensitivity for internal septations and loculations and provides real time, radiation free, cost effective bedside guidance. CECT is complementary for anatomical delineation and surgical planning.
 

Keywords

EmpyemaThoracic ultrasoundComputed tomographyPleural LoculationDrainage guidance

References

  1. Weerakkody Y, Silverstone L, et al. Pleural empyema. Radiopaedia.org. 2024 Dec 10 [accessed 2025 Jun 15]. Available from: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/pleural-empyema. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  2. Said AM, Samra SR, et al. Sonographic findings of thoracic empyema: outcome perspectives. Egypt J Bronchol. 2022;16:36. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  3. Qureshi NR, Rahman NM, Gleeson FV. Thoracic ultrasound in the diagnosis of empyema. Clin Radiol. 2009;64(7):739-47. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  4. Abdelrahman AM, Saleh MS, El-Zawawy MA. Role of ultrasound in diagnosis and management of pleural International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research www.allmedicaljournal.com empyema. Egypt J Bronchol. 2022;16(1):36. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  5. Chen KY, Liaw YS, Wang HC, et al. Sonographic septation: a useful prognostic indicator of acute thoracic empyema. J Ultrasound Med. 2015;34(2):199-205. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  6. Lichtenstein D, Mezière G, Biderman P, et al. The comet-tail artifact: an ultrasound sign of alveolar-interstitial syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997;156(5):1640-6. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  7. Reissig A, Kroegel C. Accuracy of transthoracic sonography in excluding empyema. Chest. 2007;132(3):959-64. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  8. Koegelenberg CF, von Groote-Bidlingmaier F, Bolliger CT. Transthoracic ultrasound in the evaluation of pleural effusions. Respiration. 2011;81(6):434-41. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  9. Miller WT Jr, Shah RM. Empyema: imaging findings and management. Chest. 2013;143(2):482-92. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  10. British Thoracic Society. BTS pleural disease guideline 2010. Thorax. 2010;65(Suppl 2):ii1-76. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  11. Shen KR, Bribriesco A, Crabtree T, et al. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery consensus guidelines for the management of empyema. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017;153(6):e129-46. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
  12. Bouros D, Pneumatikos I, Tzouvelekis A. The role of imaging in pleural space infections. Clin Chest Med. 2013;34(1):55-68 [Google Scholar][Crossref]

How to Cite

Rani, M., Sylonia, S. C., Garga, U. C., Choudhary, A., & Ghosh, S. K. (2025). Comparative Analysis of Thoracic Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced CT in Diagnosing Pleural Empyema: A Cross Sectional Study. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 6(3), 242-245. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.242-245

Rani, Mamta, et al. "Comparative Analysis of Thoracic Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced CT in Diagnosing Pleural Empyema: A Cross Sectional Study." International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, vol. 6, no. 3, 2025, pp. 242-245. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.242-245.

Rani, M., Sylonia, S. C., Garga, U. C., Choudhary, A. and Ghosh, S. K. (2025) 'Comparative Analysis of Thoracic Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced CT in Diagnosing Pleural Empyema: A Cross Sectional Study', International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 6(3), pp. 242-245. doi: 10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.242-245.

Rani M, Sylonia SC, Garga UC, Choudhary A, Ghosh SK. Comparative Analysis of Thoracic Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced CT in Diagnosing Pleural Empyema: A Cross Sectional Study. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research. 2025;6(3):242-245. doi:10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.242-245

Similar Articles

Share

Find this Article on

Google Scholar Semantic Scholar OpenAlex Scilit Crossref ResearchGate BASE

A newly published article may take a few days to appear on these services.