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.

March 2013 Imaging Case of the Month

Michael B. Gotway, MD*

Sudheer Penupolu, MD‡

Jasminder Mand, MD†

 

*Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Arizona

‡Fellow, Pulmonary Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona

†Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Maricopa Medical Center

 

Clinical History: A 54-year old Hispanic woman with no significant past medical history presented with complaints of cough and worsening dyspnea. She was in her usual state of health until 4-5 weeks prior to presentation when she started noticing gradually worsening dyspnea on exertion. She reported a dry cough initially which subsequently became productive of whitish, mucoid sputum. The patient denied chest pain, sore throat, sick contacts, or recent travel history. A chest x-ray 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?

  1. The chest radiograph shows bilateral linear and reticular abnormalities
  2. The chest radiograph shows nodular interstitial thickening
  3. The chest radiograph shows multiple, bilateral circumscribed nodules
  4. The chest radiograph shows mediastinal and hilar lymph node enlargement
  5. The chest radiograph shows mediastinal widening

Reference as: Gotway MB, Penupolu S, Mand J. March 2013 imaging case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2013;6(3):112-24. PDF

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