36-LQP-IJCMR 20251230000000 Lumina Quest Publishing m.arslansohail@gmail.com Lumina Quest Publishing International Journal of Clinical and Medical Research Int. J. Clin. Med. Res. 3134-8831 10.66590/ijcmr https://lquestpub.com/archives.php?journal=international-journal-of-clinical-and-medical-research 12 30 2025 12 30 2025 2 2 10.66590/ijcmr20250202 https://lquestpub.com/articles-list.php?journal=international-journal-of-clinical-and-medical-research&volume=2&issue=2 Diagnostic Utility of High-Resolution Thoracic Ultrasound in Pleural Effusion: A Prospective Study from Tikrit tes test Usama Nahi Hamdi Salah Mohi Salih Maysaloon Ahmed Khudhair Sarab K. Abedalrahman Background: Accurate evaluation of pleural effusion is crucial for effective clinical management. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of high-resolution thoracic ultrasound with chest radiography in patients presenting with pleural effusion. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Radiology Department of Salah Al-Deen General Hospital from April 2022 to February 2023. A total of 23 patients diagnosed with pleural effusion were included, comprising 13 males and 10 females, with a mean age of 49 years (range: 14–74 years). All participants underwent detailed clinical, laboratory and radiological assessments. The diagnostic performance of thoracic ultrasound was compared with chest radiography in terms of accuracy and characterization of pleural effusion. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between chest radiography and ultrasound in the evaluation of pleural effusion (p<0.001). Thoracic ultrasound demonstrated superior accuracy in assessing both the nature and extent of pleural effusion. The sensitivity of ultrasound was 78%, whereas chest radiography showed limited reliability, particularly in estimating the volume of effusion. Moreover, ultrasound was more effective in differentiating types of pleural effusion and detecting loculated collections. Conclusion: High-resolution thoracic ultrasound is a reliable, non-invasive and bedside imaging modality with greater diagnostic accuracy than chest radiography for evaluating pleural effusion. It also plays a pivotal role in guiding thoracentesis, ensuring safe chest tube placement and monitoring fluid drainage, especially in critically ill or mechanically ventilated patients. 12 30 2025 12 30 2025 30 34 10.66590/ijcmr2025020204 https://lquestpub.com/article/10.66590/ijcmr2025020204