What is a chest ultrasound?

A chest ultrasound is an imaging test. It uses sound waves to look at the structures and organs in your chest. It can help your healthcare provider see how well your lungs and heart are working.

A chest ultrasound can look at these areas:

• Lungs

• Heart

• Food pipe (esophagus)

• Mid-chest area (mediastinum)

• The space between the lungs and chest wall (pleural space)

• Other structures in the chest

Your healthcare provider may also use ultrasound to see how blood flows through the organs in your chest.

The provider uses a small, handheld device (probe or transducer) to make the images of your chest. The transducer sends out sound waves that bounce off your organs and other structures. The sound waves are too high-pitched for you to hear. The transducer then picks up the bounced sound waves. These are made into pictures of your organs.

Your provider can add another device called a Doppler probe to the transducer. This probe lets your provider hear the sound waves the transducer sends out. They can hear how fast blood is flowing through a blood vessel. The provider can also hear in which direction it is flowing. No sound or a faint sound may mean that you have a blockage in the flow.

Ultrasound is safe to have during pregnancy. It does not use radiation. It does not use dye, so it is safe for people who are allergic to contrast dye.

Why might I need a chest ultrasound?

You may need a chest ultrasound if your healthcare provider thinks you have extra fluid in your chest. This is especially true if the amount of fluid is small. The ultrasound can tell your provider if the fluid may be caused by:

• Cancer, an infection, or an inflammation (exudate)

• Leaking from blood or lymph vessels (transudate)

A chest ultrasound can also be used to:

• Look at your heart and its valves—a test called an echocardiogram

• Guide a needle to take a sample of tissue (biopsy)

• Guide a needle to remove fluids from the chest (thoracentesis)

• See how well your diaphragm moves

• See if you have fluid building up in the lung

• See if you have areas of the lung that are more dense than others, which will help find out if you have an infection, lung collapse, or other condition

Chest ultrasound may be used along with other types of imaging tests to diagnose chest conditions. These other tests include CT scans, X-rays, and MRI.

Your provider may have other reasons to advise a chest ultrasound.

What are the risks of a chest ultrasound?

A chest ultrasound has no risk from radiation. Most people have no discomfort from the transducer moving across the skin.

You may have risks depending on your specific health condition. Talk with your provider about any concerns you have before the test.

Certain things can make a chest ultrasound less accurate. These include:

• Severe obesity

• Barium in your esophagus from a recent upper gastrointestinal barium test

How do I get ready for a chest ultrasound?

• Your healthcare provider will explain the test to you. Ask them any questions you have about the test.

• You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives permission to do the test. Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is not clear.

• You usually do not need to stop eating or drinking before the test. Also, you likely will not need medicine to help you relax (sedation).

• Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

• Wear clothing that you can easily take off. Or wear clothing that lets the radiologist reach your chest. The gel put on your skin during the test does not stain clothing. But you may want to wear older clothing. The gel may not be completely removed from your skin afterward.

• Follow any other instructions your provider gives you to get ready.

What happens during a chest ultrasound?

You may have a chest ultrasound as an outpatient. This means you go home the same day. Or it may be done as part of your stay in a hospital. The way the test is done may vary. It will depend on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices.

Generally, a chest ultrasound follows this process:

1. You will be asked to remove any clothing, jewelry, or other objects that may get in the way of the scan.

2. If you are asked to remove clothing, you will be given a gown to wear.

3. You will lie on the exam table, either on your back or side. Or you will sit with your arms raised and your hands clasped behind your neck. Your position on the table depends on the area that the radiologist needs to look at.

4. The technologist will put a clear gel on your skin over the area to be looked at.

5. The technologist will press the transducer against the skin and move it over the area being studied.

6. You may be asked to shift positions so that the technologist can see other areas. You also may be asked to cough or sniff during the test. This will let the technologist see how certain structures in your chest move.

7. If blood flow is being looked at, you may hear a "whoosh, whoosh" sound when the Doppler probe is used.

8. Once the test is done, the technologist will wipe off the gel.

A chest ultrasound is not painful. But you may have some discomfort from having to stay still during the test. The gel will also feel cool and wet. The technologist will use all possible comfort measures. They will do the scan as quickly as possible to minimize any discomfort.

What happens after a chest ultrasound?

You don't need any special care after a chest ultrasound. Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions depending on your situation.

Next steps

Before you agree to the test or the procedure, make sure you know:

• The name of the test or procedure

• The reason you are having the test or procedure

• What results to expect and what they mean

• The risks and benefits of the test or procedure

• What the possible side effects or complications are

• When and where you are to have the test or procedure

• Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are

• What would happen if you did not have the test or procedure

• Any alternative tests or procedures to think about

• When and how you will get the results

• Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems

• How much you will have to pay for the test or procedure