[Chest CT: spectrum of normal findings].
A fundamental issue in the interpretation of chest CT lies in the ability to determine normality. Technical advances have resulted in an increasing number of submillimeter sections which in turn has resulted in the identification of a large number of minor abnormalities with no significant pathophysiological consequence. These images should be properly interpreted in order to avoid unnecessary follow-up examinations and radiation exposure. Often they are due to respiratory or cardiac motion artifacts. Others are explained by aging, anatomic variants, physiological phenomenon or tobacco use. These borderline imaging features detected on chest CT are described according to the main anatomical compartments of the thorax: lung and vessels, airways, pleura and chest wall, mediastinum and heart.
Laurent
F
F
Unité d'imagerie thoracique, Hôpital cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, CHU de Bordeaux, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac, France. francois.laurent@chu-bordeaux.fr
Lederlin
M
M
Corneloup
O
O
Latrabe
V
V
Montaudon
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016477:Artifacts; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D054085:Foramen Ovale / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055613:Multiple Pulmonary Nodules / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000592:standards; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards