To compare the characteristics of high-frequency ultrasonography with CT in chest wall tuberculosis, and to explore the diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound in chest wall tuberculosis abscess.

Retrospective analysis was performed on 35 patients with chest wall tuberculous abscess from November 2014 to may 2017, who were admitted to Hangzhou Red Cross hospital. All case were confirmed by surgery and pathology, and all patients were performed ultrasound and chest CT scan. The Chi square test was uesed to compare the results of high-frequency ultrasound and CT examination in 35 patients with tuberculous abscess of chest wall.

High-frequency ultrasonography and CT were both 100% sensitive to the 35 cases of chest wall tuberculous abscess. High-frequency ultrasonography showed rib lesions in 17 cases, while CT showed rib lesions in 15 cases. Ultrasonography showed dead bone in 5 cases, while CT showed dead bone in 3 cases, the difference was not statistically significant. The ultrasonography showed the cortical roughness of ribs in 3 cases, while the CT showed that in 1 case, the difference was not statistically significant. The ultrasonography showed the thickened rib in 2 cases, while the CT showed that in 10 cases, the CT detection rate was higher than the ultrasound examinations with significant difference. Ultrasonography showed rib fractures in 12 cases, while CT showed that in 11 cases, the difference was not statistically significant. In the cases of rib lesion<0.1 cm, ultrasound identified 2 cases, while CT identified only 1 case, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Compared with CT, high-frequency ultrasonography can show tuberculous abscess and rib lesions, which can be used as an important imaging diagnostic method for chest wall tuberculosis.