title: Pneumothorax: appearance on lateral chest radiographs.
abstract: The appearance of pneumothorax on lateral radiographs obtained with the patient erect were reviewed in 100 patients (122 total examinations). A pneumothorax could be seen on the lateral projection in 89% of the examinations (109 of 122). The displaced pleural line was most frequently identified anteriorly or posteriorly and was less commonly identified at the lung apex or in a subpulmonic location. In 11 cases, an air-fluid level was the only recognizable finding of a pneumothorax on the lateral projection. Although in 27% of examinations (32 of 122) the pneumothorax was either not seen (11%) (n = 13) or was a subtle finding (16%) (n = 19), in 14% of examinations (17 of 122) the lateral projection provided helpful information to supplement the posteroanterior projection.
authors: Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
authors: H S
authors: HS
authors: Glazer
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Anderson
authors: B S
authors: BS
authors: Wilson
authors: P L
authors: PL
authors: Molina
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Sagel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods