Comments and illustrations of the EFSUMB guidelines. Parasitic diseases of the lungs and pleura.

Abstract

Parasitic infections of the lungs and pleura are uncommon but clinically significant, affecting both endemic and non-endemic areas due to global travel and migration. While computed tomography (CT) remains the imaging modality of choice, thoracic ultrasound, particularly in peripheral and pleural lesions, offers a valuable, non-invasive complement. Beyond its traditional role in detecting effusions or consolidations, ultrasound now includes advanced techniques such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), which enhances lesion characterization. This review summarizes the most relevant pulmonary and pleural parasitic diseases, emphasizing their characteristic findings in B-mode and CEUS, and illustrates their diagnostic importance through selected clinical cases.