Step 2: Review Competency Goals for this module
- Identification of a relatively hypoechoic or echo-free space surrounded by typical anatomic boundaries: diaphragm, chest wall, ribs, visceral pleura, normal/consolidated/ atelectatic lung
- Identification of liver and ascites, spleen, kidney, heart, pericardium and pericardial effusion, spinal column, aorta, inferior vena cava
- Identification of characteristic dynamic findings of pleural fluid, such as diaphragmatic motion, floating lung, dynamic fluid motion, respirophasic shape change
- Characterization of fluid: anechoic; echogenicity (using liver/spleen as reference); homogeneous or heterogeneous; presence of strands/debris/septations
- Performance of semi quantitative assessment of fluid volume
- Identification of miscellaneous findings, such as pleural based masses or thickening
- Recognition of specific limitations of ultrasonography to identify pleural fluid, such as inadequate image quality due to technical limitations, subcutaneous emphysema, hemothorax, echo-dense purulent fluid, mimics of effusion such as mesothelioma or pleural fibrosis