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.

Rick Robbins, M.D. Rick Robbins, M.D.

October 2017 Imaging Case of the Month

Paul J. Conomos, MD1

Michael B. Gotway, MD2

 

1Arizona Pulmonary Specialists

Phoenix, AZ USA

2Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ USA

 

Clinical History: An 18-year-old man with no known previous medical history presented with complaints of intermittent cough persisting several months. No hemoptysis was noted.

Physical examination was largely unremarkable and the patient’s oxygen saturation was 99% on room air. The patient’s vital signs were within normal limits.

Laboratory evaluation was unremarkable.  Quantiferon testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was negative, and testing for coccidioidomycosis was unrevealing. Frontal and lateral chest radiography (Figure 1) was performed.

Figure 1. 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 proceed to the second of eight pages)

  1. The chest radiograph shows asymmetric reticulation and interlobular septal thickening
  2. The chest radiograph shows bilateral reticulation associated with decreased lung volumes
  3. The chest radiograph shows focal consolidation
  4. The chest radiograph shows large lung volumes
  5. The chest radiograph shows small cavitary pulmonary nodules

Cite as: Conomos PJ, Gotway MB. October 2017 imaging case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2017;15(4):138-46. doi: https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc119-17 PDF

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