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.

November 2014 Imaging Case of the Month

Michael B. Gotway, MD

 

Department of Radiology

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ

 

Clinical History: A 38-year-old non-smoking woman presented with complaints of intermittent dry cough, occasional vomiting, and dyspnea, occasionally with fever and chills. She indicated that she has suffered recurrent bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia annually over the previous 10 years. The patient had a history of upper arm localized melanoma resection 10 years earlier. She had smoked for 10 years, but quit one year prior to presentation. Her past medical and surgical histories were otherwise unremarkable.

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 proceed to the next panel)

  1. The chest radiograph shows asymmetric pulmonary vascularity
  2. The chest radiograph shows bilateral linear and reticular opacities and diminished lung volumes suggesting fibrotic lung disease
  3. The chest radiograph shows mild, bilateral, streaky central opacities, possibly reflecting airway thickening
  4. The chest radiograph shows numerous small nodules
  5. The chest radiograph shows volume loss involving the right thorax with a mass-like opacity projected over the right hilum

Reference as: Gotway MB. November 2014 imaging case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2014;9(5):264-77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc147-14 PDF

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