Study Smarter
Upper Airway/Trachea
In a normal chest x-ray the mediastinum and diaphragm are visible because of radio density differences (i.e. there is an interface). A loss of normally appearing interfaces usually results from processes in adjacent lung tissue (i.e. consolidation, atelectasis, mass, etc.) The interface loss helps you localize the disease to a specific part of the lung.
The pathological process can be localized in the right upper lobe when the interface of the SVC and the right superior mediastinum is lost (“Silhouette” sign).
No image available
The pathological process can be localized in the right middle lobe, when the right heart border interface is lost (“Silhouette” sign).
The pathological process can be localized in the right lower lobe when the right hemidiaphragm interface is lost (“Silhouette” sign).
The pathological process can be localized in the lingula when the left heart border interface is lost (“Silhouette” sign).
No image available
The pathological process can be localized in the left lower lobe when the left hemidiaphragm interface is lost (“Silhouette” sign).
