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. 7/6/12 Rick Robbins, M.D. 7/6/12

July 2012 Imaging Case of the Month

Michael B. Gotway, MD

Associate Editor, Imaging

Clinical History: A 24-year-old non-smoking man presents to the emergency room with hemoptysis, cough, fever, and chest pain. Frontal and lateral chest radiography (Figures 1A and B) was performed.

Figure 1. Frontal (A) and lateral (B) chest radiography shows opacity in the medial left lung base. No clear evidence of air bronchograms is evident, no pleural abnormality is seen, and no lymphadenopathy is present.

Which of the differential diagnostic considerations listed below is the most likely consideration for the appearance of the lesion on the chest radiograph?

Reference as: Gotway MB. July 2012 imaging case of the month. Soutwest J Pulm Crit Care 2012;5:24-32. (click here for a PDF version of the case)