April 2013 Imaging Case of the Month

Michael B. Gotway, MD

Department of Radiology

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ

A 38-year old man presented to the Emergency Department with complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, and fever. A frontal chest radiograph (Figure 1A) was performed; a comparison chest radiograph (Figure 1B) is presented as well.

Figure 1. Panel A: Frontal chest radiography. Panel B: A comparison frontal chest radiograph performed one year earlier.

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

1. The chest radiograph shows bilateral linear and reticular abnormalities
2. The chest radiograph appears normal and unchanged from previous
3. The chest radiograph shows multiple, bilateral poorly defined nodular opacities
4. The chest radiograph shows multifocal pleural abnormalities
5. The chest radiograph shows mediastinal widening

Reference as: Gotway MB. April 2013 imaging case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2013;6(4):171-7. PDF