Although imaging of the abdomen is now largely performed utilizing computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, (US), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), many patients still have “plain films” of the abdomen as a first step before other imaging studies are performed or…
This chapter will discuss how to assess heart size, then describe the normal and abnormal contours of the heart on the frontal radiograph, and, finally, illustrate some imaging findings in common cardiac diseases. Recognizing an Enlarged Cardiac Silhouette The cardiac…
In this chapter, you will learn how to recognize mediastinal masses, benign and malignant pulmonary neoplasms, pulmonary thromboembolic disease, and selected airway diseases. Several chest abnormalities are discussed in other chapters ( Table 11.1 ). A complete discussion of all…
Patients in the critical or intensive care units (ICU) are monitored on a frequent basis with portable chest radiography, both to check on the position of their multiple assistive devices and to assess their cardiopulmonary status. Diseases commonly seen in…
General Considerations Pneumonia can be defined as consolidation of the lung produced by inflammatory exudate, usually as a result of an infectious agent. Most pneumonias produce airspace disease, either lobar or segmental. Other pneumonias demonstrate interstitial disease and some produce…
Normal Anatomy and Physiology of the Pleural Space Normal anatomy The parietal pleura lines the inside of the thoracic cage and the visceral pleura adheres to the surface of the lung parenchyma including its interface with the mediastinum and diaphragm…
What Is Atelectasis? Common to all forms of atelectasis is a loss of volume in some or all of the lung, usually leading to increased density of the lung involved. The lung normally appears “black” on a chest radiograph because…
Mrs. Smith, a 66-year-old female, comes into the emergency department with increasing shortness of breath. This is her frontal chest radiograph ( Fig. 6.1 ). Would your preliminary recommendation be bronchoscopy for atelectasis, thoracentesis for a large pleural effusion, or…
We have reviewed the normal imaging anatomy of the heart and lungs in the previous two chapters. Make sure to come back to them for a brush-up whenever needed. Recognizing the difference between normal anatomy and what is abnormal is…
Emphasizing conventional radiography first, we will begin with an assessment of heart size, then describe the normal and abnormal contours of the heart on the frontal radiograph and, finally, discuss the normal anatomy of the heart as seen on computed…