September 2012 Imaging Case of the Month

Michael B. Gotway, MD

Associate Editor Imaging

Department of Radiology

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ

Clinical History: A 35-year-old non-smoking man presented with a history of slowly progressive shortness of breath preceded by cough and wheezing, previously presumptively diagnosed with asthma. He had a previous history of ulcerative colitis and a +PPD for which he received 6 month INH therapy. Frontal and lateral chest radiography (Figure 1) was performed.

Figure 1. Panel A: Frontal chest radiography. Panel B: Lateral chest radiography.

Which of the following statements regarding the chest radiograph is accurate?

1. The radiograph shows a diffuse interstitial abnormality
2. The radiograph appears normal
3. The radiograph shows cystic lung disease
4. The radiograph a mediastinal contour abnormality
5. The radiograph shows abnormal lung volumes

Reference as: Gotway MB. September 2012 imaging case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care 2012;5:126-34. (Click here for a PDF version)