title: Radiologic anatomy of the inferior lung margins as demonstrated on computed radiography with enhancement of low frequencies.
abstract: The aim of this work was to describe the radiologic anatomy of the inferior lung margins (ILMs). The method was to enhance the low frequencies of 50 normal chest computed radiographs. On each side, the anterior and posterior ILMs were divided into two halves. The frequency of visibility of each half of each ILM was calculated as their shape, lateral and medial continuities, depth, and vertebral level. The differences were compared by a paired Student t-test. The right posterior ILM was always visible and usually concave upward (94%). Its height was 8.7 +/- 1.6 cm. Its most inferior part faced L1 or L2 in 92% of cases. It was continuous medially inside with the azygo-esophageal recess in 96% of cases. The left posterior ILM was not visible laterally in 34% of cases and medially in 60% of cases. It was most often concave upward (82% of cases). Its height was 6.9 +/- 1.5 cm. Its most inferior part was at the level of L1 or L2. It was continuous medially with either the left paraspinal line or the paraaortic line. The right anterior ILM was visible in 76% of cases. It was most often oblique upward and medially (46%) or concave upward (33%) and often notched (38%). The left anterior ILM was visible in 64% of cases and more often oblique inward and upward (58%). It was continuous medially with the left inferior precardiac recess. The anterior ILMs were more variable than the posterior. The posterior ILMs were very similar in shape and inferior level and differed in depth only by the difference of height of the diaphragmatic cupolas.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frija
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Kerviler
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zagdanski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed