title: High resolution ultrasound of the chest wall.
abstract: To study the detailed normal ultrasonic anatomy of the pleura and chest wall, high resolution (7.5 MHz) ultrasonograms were obtained from cadaver chest wall specimens and compared with thin section computed tomograms and anatomical specimens. Ultrasonograms show three layers of the intercostal muscles (internal, external and innermost), covered by the "echogenic pleural line." The "echogenic pleural line" is caused by composite echoes from the inner parietal pleura, and the outer endothoracic fascia, with the fatty tissue covering both sides of the fascia, which are located deep to the chest wall muscles. On ultrasonograms, the subpleural fat tissue, when abundant, appeared as an apron-like structure hanging down from the inner surface of the rib (subpleural fat pad), or diffuse fat accumulation mimicking the pleural thickening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiyono
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izuno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasuga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ehara
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography