Migrating lobar atelectasis of the right lung: radiologic findings in six patients.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the radiologic findings of migrating lobar atelectasis of the right lung.


METHODS
Chest radiographs (n = 6) and CT scans (n = 5) of six patients with migrating lobar atelectasis of the right lung were analyzed retrospectively. The underlying diseases associated with lobar atelectasis were bronchogenic carcinoma (n = 4), bronchial tuberculosis (n = 1), and tracheobronchial amyloidosis (n = 1).


RESULTS
Atelectasis involved the right upper lobe (RUL) (n = 3) and both the RUL and right middle lobe (RML) (n = 3). On supine anteroposterior radiographs (n = 5) and on an erect posteroanterior radiograph (n = 1), the atelectatic lobe(s) occupied the right upper lung zone, with a wedge shape abutting onto the right mediastinal border. On erect posteroanterior radiographs (n = 6), the heavy atelectatic lobe(s) migrated downward, forming a peri- or infrahilar area of increased opacity and obscuring the right cardiac margin. Erect lateral radiographs (n = 4) showed inferior shift of the anterosuperiorly located atelectatic lobe(s) to the anteroinferior portion of the hemithorax.


CONCLUSIONS
Atelectatic lobe(s) can move within the hemithorax according to changes in a patient's position. This process involves the RUL or both the RUL and RML.
Kim
T S
TS
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
K S
KS
Hwang
J H
JH
Choo
I W
IW
Lim
J H
JH
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging