Learning objectives
- To describe and to discuss the most common and useful signs in thoracic imaging.
-To explain their utility in order to localize opacities on chest-x-ray and to consider differential diagnoses.
Background
The chest x-ray is the most frequently requested radiologic examination.Howeverthe correct interpretation of a chest film requires the understanding of basic principles.
Chest x-ray is a plane representation of tridimensional structures. It is important to examine all the areas of the lung, the diaphragm, the heart and mediastinal borders. The thoracic area has a high intrinsic contrast due to the presence of tissues with different densities and especially the lung-soft tissue interfaces can result in a line or stripe and silhouette. These lines and silhouettes...
Findings and procedure details
Thoracic signs can be classified into three groups as shown in table 1.
In the first group we consider those signs that are able to determine the localization of the opacity such as intrapulmonary, mediastinal or pleural; in the second group those signs that determine a variation of the pulmonary volumes in terms of increase or decrease, the last group consider signs that help us in the differential diagnosis.
LOCALIZE SIGN
Silhouette signis the loss of an anatomic soft-tissue border. The silhouette sign results from...
Conclusion
Accurate knowledge of signs in thoracic imaging plays a pivotal role in the interpretation of the Chest Xray. The correct assessment of any abnormality in terms of site or cause can deeply affect patient management.
Personal information and conflict of interest
C. Valdesi; Chieti/IT - Author at - D. Veri; Pescara/IT - Author at - M. Mereu; Chieti/IT - Author at - A. Farchione; Rome/IT - Author at - S. Conte; Chieti/IT - Author at - S. Lo Cicero; Palermo, ROMA/IT - Author at - M. Villani; Chieti/IT - Author at - R. L. Patea; Chieti/IT - Author at - A. R. Larici; Rome/IT - Author at -
References
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