Pneumothorax: appearance on lateral chest radiographs.
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.
Glazer
H S
HS
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Anderson
D J
DJ
Wilson
B S
BS
Molina
P L
PL
Sagel
S S
SS
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