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.

February 2015 Imaging Case of the Month

Michael B. Gotway, MD

 

Department of Radiology

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ

 

Clinical History: A 37-year-old man, a former smoker (quit 10 years ago) presented to his physician as an outpatient with complaints of intermittent chest pain, malaise, and intermittent fever. Stress ECG and upper endoscopy were negative. His previous medical history was otherwise unremarkable. Various physicians told the patient his symptoms were due to “stress”; presumptive antibiotic treatment had no effect.

Frontal chest radiography (Figure 1) was performed.

Figure 1. Frontal 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 five panels)

  1. The chest radiograph shows a circumscribed pulmonary mass
  2. The chest radiograph shows asymmetric pulmonary vascularity
  3. The chest radiograph shows bilateral linear and reticular opacities and diminished lung volumes suggesting fibrotic lung disease
  4. The chest radiograph shows cardiomegaly and small pleural effusions
  5. The chest radiograph shows numerous small nodules

Reference as: Gotway MB. February 2015 imaging case of the month. Soutwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015:10(2):70-6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc018-15 PDF

 

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