Articles
Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.
1,981 results found
Article
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a low-grade destructive metastasizing PEComatous tumor 1 resulting from the proliferation of LAM cells in the lung, kidney and axial lymphatics. The disease is caused by mutations of the TSC2 or TSC1 genes and is more commonly sporadic rather than inherited. Cys...
Article
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS), also known as folliculin gene-associated syndrome, is a multi-system disease characterized by:
cutaneous manifestations, typically fibrofolliculomas
multiple lung cysts and spontaneous pneumothoraces
increased risk of renal tumors, typically chromophobe oncocyt...
Article
Right middle lobe syndrome
Right middle lobe syndrome refers to chronic right middle lobe collapse, usually without an obstructing lesion (but not always). It is usually with associated bronchiectasis.
Epidemiology
Right middle lobe syndrome is usually encountered in older adults, with a predilection for women (see Lad...
Article
Askin tumor
The original description of the Askin tumor (by Askin and Rosai in 1979 1), and many studies following it have led to a great deal of confusion. An Askin tumor was considered a separate entity or as a type of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor, usually of the chest wall.
However, in the...
Article
Pulmonary infarction
Pulmonary infarction is one of the key complications of pulmonary embolism (PE).
Epidemiology
Pulmonary infarction occurs in the minority (10-15%) of patients with PE 1. Although in a necropsy study of those with lethal PE, 60% of cases developed infarction 2.
Historically it was thought tha...
Article
Human coronavirus
The human coronaviruses (hCoVs), members of the family Coronaviridae, are enveloped RNA viruses that affect humans, mammals and birds, causing both acute and chronic illnesses.
Four of the seven known human coronaviruses usually cause a mild coryzal illness only, these are HKU1, NL63, OC43, and...
Article
Small heart sign
The small heart sign represents a rarely encountered but critical sign on chest caused by a sudden reduction of heart size caused by cardiac tamponade due to either tension pneumopericardium or pneumomediastinum.
A sudden, >2 cm reduction in the transverse cardiac diameter is considered highly...
Article
Aortopulmonary window (radiograph)
The aortopulmonary (aortic-pulmonary or AP) window (also known as APW, but see 'Terminology' below) is a radiological mediastinal space seen on frontal chest radiographs.
Terminology
The term should also not be confused with an aortopulmonary septal defect, which is occasionally also - unfortu...
Article
Hiatal surface area
The hiatal surface area (HSA) is a measurement that has been proposed to define the size of the hiatal defect in the preoperative assessment of a hiatus hernia. It allows to determine the two-dimensional expanse of the hiatal orifice and then adapts the crural closure to the exact dimension of t...
Article
Chest (lateral view)
The lateral chest view examines the lungs, bony thoracic cavity, mediastinum, and great vessels.
Indications
This orthogonal view to a frontal chest radiograph may be performed as an adjunct in cases where there is diagnostic uncertainty. The lateral chest view can be particularly useful in as...
Article
Lobar consolidation
Lobar consolidation is the term used to describe consolidation in one of the lobes of the lung. It implies an alveolar spread of disease and is most commonly due to pneumonia.
Pathology
Consolidation refers to the alveolar airspaces being filled with fluid (exudate/transudate/blood), cells (in...
Article
Stoma
A stoma (plural stomata) is defined as an artificially created connection between two hollow organs or a hollow organ and the skin. A surgical procedure that involves the creation of a stoma carries the suffix "-ostomy".
For a discussion of imaging features and potential complications, please r...
Article
Penetrating thoracic trauma
Penetrating thoracic trauma, namely gunshot and stab injuries, vary widely in incidence globally but nevertheless result in high mortality and serious morbidity. CT is the modality of choice in imaging these patients and can reduce the need for surgical exploration.
Pathology
Penetrating thor...
Article
Lung atelectasis
Lung atelectasis (plural: atelectases) refers to the collapse or incomplete expansion of pulmonary parenchyma.
Terminology
Atelectasis may be used synonymously with collapse, but some authors reserve the term “atelectasis” for partial collapse, not inclusive of total atelectasis of the affect...
Article
Passive atelectasis
Passive atelectasis, also known as relaxation atelectasis, is a form of lung atelectasis due to the loss of the negative pressure state in the pleural space.
Clinical presentation
The clinical presentation would depend on the extent of atelectasis and how quickly it develops. Small and gradual...
Article
Unilateral hypertransradiant hemithorax
Unilateral hypertransradiancy is the correct term for the chest radiograph appearance of decreased attenuation affecting one lung. Hyperlucency is a commonly used alternative but is inaccurate; the chest is not penetrated by light!
An outside-in approach is helpful to identify the cause:
techn...
Article
Unilateral hypertransradiant hemithorax (mnemonic)
Unilateral hypertransradiancy is the correct term for the chest radiograph appearance of increased blackness affecting one lung. Hyperlucency is a commonly used alternative but is inaccurate; the chest is not penetrated by light!
A logical approach begins by checking for:
technical factors
pa...
Article
Von Hippel-Lindau disease
Von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) disease is characterized by the development of numerous benign and malignant tumors in different organs (at least 40 types 1) due to mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 3.
Epidemiology
The disease is rare with an estimated prevalence of 1:35,000-50,...
Article
Lung cancer (staging - IASLC 8th edition)
The IASLC (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer) 8th edition lung cancer staging system was introduced in 2016 and supersedes the IASLC 7th edition. It is a TNM staging system.
Standard-of-care lung cancer staging ideally should be performed in a multidisciplinary meeting usin...
Article
Aortic nipple
Aortic nipple is the name given to the chest radiography appearance of the left superior intercostal vein as it courses over the aortic arch. This small convexity is seen in less than 10% of PA chest x-rays. The caliber of the vein normally changes with intrathoracic pressure and patient positio...
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