Ultrasound may spare patients painful needle test for lung fluid

This study looks at whether a chest ultrasound, which is painless and non-invasive, can accurately tell the difference between two types of fluid buildup around the lungs. Normally, doctors must insert a needle into the chest to draw fluid for lab testing, which carries some risk. Researchers will enroll 90 adults with this condition, give them an ultrasound, and compare the results to the standard needle test to see how well the ultrasound works.