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.
162 results found
Article
Pulmonary calcification
Pulmonary calcification has many causes and varying morphology:
calcific pulmonary nodules or masses
micronodules
healed varicella pneumonia
occupational disease/pneumoconioses
silicosis
coal worker's pneumoconiosis
stannosis
baritosis
pulmonary hemosid...
Article
Benign vs malignant pulmonary nodule
Differentiating benign from malignant pulmonary nodules is of great importance as it determines the further course of management of the patient.
Benign pulmonary nodule
size: the smaller the size the more likely to be benign
~80% of benign nodules are <2 cm in size.
margin: smooth, regular; ...
Article
Anterior mediastinal mass
Anterior mediastinal masses can be caused by neoplastic and non-neoplastic pathology. These masses arise in the anterior mediastinum, that portion of the mediastinum anterior to the pericardium and below the level of the clavicles.
Epidemiology
The prevalence of anterior mediastinal masses on...
Article
Right middle lobe consolidation
Right middle lobe consolidation refers to consolidation in part (incomplete) or all (complete) of the right middle lobe.
Pathology
Consolidation refers to the alveolar airspaces being filled with fluid (exudate/transudate/blood), cells (inflammatory), tissue, or other material.
The list of ca...
Article
Cystic retroperitoneal lesions
Cystic retroperitoneal lesions carry a relatively broad differential, which includes:
retroperitoneal lymphatic malformation
retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma
retroperitoneal cystic teratoma
retroperitoenal cystic mesothelioma
pseudomyxoma retroperitonei with cystic change
perianal muci...
Article
Bilateral hypertranslucent hemithoraces
Bilateral hypertranslucent hemithoraces is the presence of decreased density of the hemithoraces bilaterally on a plain chest radiograph. This hypertranslucency, a.k.a. hyperlucency, may be focal or diffuse 1.
Also see unilateral hypertranslucent hemithorax.
Focal
pulmonary bullae
localize...
Article
Apical chest mass
Apical chest masses are often important and may be missed, especially when examined with a plain chest radiograph. It is always recommended to perform a targeted assessment of the apices of the lungs during a chest x-ray; they are one of the classic review areas.
Pathology
Etiology
Commonly a...
Article
Elevated diaphragm
Elevated diaphragm refers to the symmetrical elevation of both domes of the diaphragm.
Pathology
Etiology
There is some overlap with causes of an elevated hemidiaphragm.
Technical
supine position
poor inspiratory effort
Patient factors
obesity
pregnancy
Diaphragmatic pathology
paral...
Article
Calcifying pulmonary metastases
Calcifying pulmonary metastases are rare. These should not be confused with metastatic pulmonary calcification.
Pathology
Calcification in metastases can arise through a variety of mechanisms: bone formation in tumors of osteoid origin, calcification and ossification of tumor cartilage, dystro...
Article
Ascending aorta dilatation
Dilatation of the ascending aorta is a common finding in the elderly but unusual in younger patients.
Pathology
In adults, an ascending aortic diameter greater than 4 cm is considered to indicate dilatation 4. Aneurysmal dilatation is considered when the ascending aortic diameter reaches or ex...
Article
Bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy (differential)
Bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy can result from a number of causes and generally implies a systemic process. They include:
autoimmune diseases, e.g.:
rheumatoid arthritis
scleroderma
dermatomyositis 5
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
psoriasis
Sjögren syndrome
lymphoma
leukemia
di...
Article
Cystic lung lesions (pediatric)
Cystic lesions in pediatric patients are usually congenital lesions and, as such, can be seen antenatally and following delivery.
Pathology
Etiology
Congenital
These congenital lesions are predominantly covered by the overarching diagnosis of bronchopulmonary foregut malformation. This is a ...
Article
Pulmonary necrosis
Pulmonary necrosis is seen in a variety of conditions, including 1:
pulmonary infections
Klebsiella pneumoniae - Klebsiella pneumonia
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae - pulmonary haemophilus influenzae infection
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - pulmonary pseudomonas aeruginosa infe...
Article
Coin lesion (lung)
A coin lesion refers to a round or oval, well-circumscribed solitary pulmonary lesion. It is usually 1-5 cm in diameter and calcification may or may not be present 1,3. Typically but not always the patient is asymptomatic 1.
Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis for such lesions i...
Article
Subpulmonic effusion
Subpulmonic effusions (also known as subpulmonary effusions) are pleural effusions that can be seen only on an erect projection. Rather than layering laterally and blunting of the costophrenic angle, the pleural fluid lies almost exclusively between the lung base and the diaphragm.
Radiographic...
Article
Inferior vena caval contrast reflux
Reflux of contrast into inferior vena cava can be common findings seen on CT. It is considered a specific but insensitive sign of right-sided heart disease / right heart dysfunction at low contrast injection rates although the usefulness decreases with high injection rates.
Conditions associate...
Article
Diffuse pleural thickening
Diffuse pleural thickening refers to a morphological type of pleural thickening. It can occur from malignant as well as non-malignant causes, which include:
diffuse pleural fibrosis / fibrothorax 6
asbestos-related pleural disease (asbestos related diffuse pleural thickening): typically seen a...
Article
Nodular pleural thickening
Nodular pleural thickening is a form of pleural thickening.
Pathology
Etiology
Most common causes of nodular pleural thickening are malignant and include:
metastatic pleural disease, particularly from adenocarcinomas, e.g.
bronchogenic adenocarcinoma
breast cancer
ovarian cancer
prostate...
Article
Rib notching
Rib notching refers to deformation of the superior or inferior surface of the rib. It can affect a single rib (from trauma or solitary masses e.g. schwannoma) or can affect multiple ribs.
Differential diagnosis
The differentials differ according to whether it is the superior or inferior surfac...
Article
Diffuse tracheal narrowing
Conditions associated with diffuse tracheal narrowing or collapse include (in alphabetical order):
amyloidosis
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): saber sheath trachea
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
relapsing polychondritis
sarcoidosis
tracheobronchial tuberculosis 3
tracheoma...
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.