CXR

Question 1

What does a collapsed lung look like?

Answer 1

Shift of structures TOWARDS the collapse as there is a LOSS in lung volume.

i.e. movement of trachea, crowding of ribs, elevation of diaphragm, silhouette sign (loss of costophrenic or cardiophrenic angle).

Question 2

What does consolidation look like?

Answer 2

White areas of lung indicating fluid build-up with NO shift of structures, may have diaphragm higher on one side due to reduced ventilation.

i.e. whiteness, loss of angles, no crowding of ribs, no shift of trachea.

Question 3

What does a pneumothorax look like? What indicates a tension pneumothorax?

Answer 3

Air in the pleural cavity with a shift of structures AWAY from pneumothorax (increased volume vs decreased lung volume as seen in collapse).

i.e. widening rib spaces, no vascular markings, flattening of diaphragm, shift of trachea away, other lung may appear hazy due to increased vascularisation.

Tension pneumothorax does all of the above PLUS compresses the other lung.

Question 4

What does pleural effusion look like?

Answer 4

Fluid in the pleural cavity, white areas with meniscus present (if upright as fluid will move with gravity).

i.e. fluid level/meniscus, opacity of lower lobe (if upright), no shift in structures, vascular markings present both sides, loss of angles.

Question 5

What does emphysema look like?

Answer 5

Characterised by shape of lungs/chest.

i.e. long thin mediastinum, low/flattened diaphragm, horizontal ribs, widening of ribs.