title: Radiographic evaluation of the pleural fluid accumulation rate after pneumonectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Understanding the radiographic appearance and normal rate of fluid accumulation after pneumonectomy is important in order to detect postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Upright posterior-anterior chest radiographs of 94 postpneumonectomy patients were assessed for the rate of pleural fluid accumulation as a percentage of hemithorax volume.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall median time to 70% hemithoracic opacification was 3 days and mean time was 27 days. The median time to 100% opacification was 66 days and mean time was 96 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The median time to 70% hemithoracic opacification postpneumonectomy is 3 days, while median time to 100% opacification was 66 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: rfmunden@houstonmethodist.org.
authors.forename: Reginald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Munden
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Univeristy College Cork Bon Secours HospitalCork, Ireland. Electronic address: sullypos@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: pliu9297@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: avaporci@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Ara A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vaporciyan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chest radiograph; Pleural fluid accumulation; Post-operative chest radiograph; Postpneumonectomy