Central bronchial displacement with large posterior pleural collections. Findings on the lateral chest radiograph and CT scans.
The central bronchi have a characteristic orientation and relation to each other on lateral chest radiographs and computed tomograms. Twelve patients with proven unilateral large pleural collections all demonstrated ipsilateral forward central bronchial displacement on their lateral chest radiographs. Each of the eight patients who had computed tomograms also had similar displacement. In a patient with a large area of opacity located in a posterior hemithorax, ipsilateral forward central bronchial displacement may be a clue indicating that the opacity represents a pleural collection.
D000328:Adult; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001995:Bronchography; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed