Thoracoscopic ultrasonography: Is it a good technique in the pediatric age?

To assess the validity of intraoperative ultrasonography during thoracoscopy for malignant disease, the authors used a Doppler ultrasonographic probe introduced through a 10-mm trocar to evaluate the presence of small malignant lesions of the lung in a patient with Ewing's sarcoma. Examination of the lung by ultrasonography showed and identified a mass deep inside the parenchyma of the lung that was not possible to visualize on the surface of the lung. The authors decided to perform a wedge resection of the pulmonary parenchyma. The specimen showed a metastasis of the lung from Ewing's sarcoma. The results of immunochemical and histochemical investigations confirmed the diagnosis. Thoracoscopic ultrasonography can be performed to confirm the presence of lesions with a diameter <1 cm. This is very important in malignant disease to assess the optimum therapeutic strategy.