Ultrasound examination of extracardiac chest masses in children. Doppler diagnosis of a vascular etiology.
The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound techniques in the evaluation of chest masses of unknown etiology. We reviewed the diagnosis of chest masses in 12 children seen over 3 years, all confirmed by surgery or pathology. The masses were vascular in three patients (pseudoaneurysm) and nonvascular in nine. Ultrasound yielded a correct differential diagnosis of the masses. Doppler sampling diagnosed the vascular etiology of the three pseudoaneurysms. We conclude that Doppler techniques can identify the vascular nature of chest masses, and that ultrasonography is valuable in the assessment of chest masses in children.
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