Imaging
Those who care for patients with pulmonary, critical care or sleep disorders rely heavily on chest radiology and pathology to determine diagnoses. The Southwest Journal of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep publishes case-based articles with characteristic chest imaging and related pathology.
The editor of this section will oversee and coordinate the publication of a core of the most important chest imaging topics. In doing so, they encourage the submission of unsolicited manuscripts. It cannot be overemphasized that both radiologic and pathologic images must be of excellent quality. As a rule, 600 DPI is sufficient for radiographic and pathologic images. Taking pictures of plain chest radiographs and CT scans with a digital camera is strongly discouraged. The figures should be cited in the text and numbered consecutively. The stain used for pathology specimens and magnification should be mentioned in the figure legend. Those who care for patients with pulmonary, critical care or sleep disorders rely heavily on chest radiology and pathology to determine diagnoses. The Southwest Journal of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep publishes case-based articles with characteristic chest imaging and related pathology. The editor of this section will oversee and coordinate the publication of a core of the most important chest imaging topics. In doing so, they encourage the submission of unsolicited manuscripts. It cannot be overemphasized that both radiologic and pathologic images must be of excellent quality. As a rule, 600 DPI is sufficient for radiographic and pathologic images. Taking pictures of plain chest radiographs and CT scans with a digital camera is strongly discouraged. The figures should be cited in the text and numbered consecutively. The stain used for pathology specimens and magnification should be mentioned in the figure legend.
May 2019 Imaging Case of the Month: Asymptomatic Pulmonary Nodules and Cysts in a 47-Year-Old Woman
Michael B. Gotway, MD
Department of Radiology
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, AZ USA
Clinical History: A 47-year-old previously healthy woman presented to her new physician for a routine physical examination. The patient had no complaints. The patient’s physical examination showed normal vital signs and clear lungs; the physical examination was essentially unremarkable. The patient’s past medical history included a brief smoking history, having quit over 20 years earlier, as well as seasonal allergies. Her past surgical history included an appendectomy nearly 20 years earlier and a hysterectomy for bleeding related to uterine leiomyomas approximately 12 years prior to presentation. The patient was not taking any prescription medications.
Basic laboratory data, including a complete blood count, electrolyte panel, and liver function studies were all within the normal range. An electrocardiogram revealed normal findings. Frontal and lateral chest radiography (Figure 1) was performed.
Figure 1. Frontal (A) and lateral (B) chest radiography.
Which of the following statements regarding the chest radiograph is most accurate? (click on the correct answer to be directed to the second of eleven pages)
- The chest radiograph shows mediastinal and hilar lymph node enlargement
- The chest radiograph shows multifocal nodular pulmonary consolidation
- The chest radiograph shows multiple, bilateral cavitary nodules
- The chest radiograph shows multiple, bilateral circumscribed nodules
- The chest radiograph shows nodular interstitial thickening
Cite as: Gotway MB. May 2019 imaging case of the month: Asymptomatic pulmonary nodules and cysts in a 47-year-old woman. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2019;18(5):106-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc022-19 PDF