Mediastinum

Components of the PA mediastianl shadow (A) include SVC (1), ascending aorta (2), RA (3), IVC (4), aortic arch (5), pulmonary trunk (6), LA appendage (7), and LV (8). Mediastinal compartments on the lateral film (B) include: superior (S), anterior (A), middle (M) and...

Lateral Film

This is a normal lateral film of a female patient. Note the spine (sp), anterior costophrenic angle (acpa), gastric air bubble (gab), trachea (tr), left mainstem bronchus (lbr), right mainstem bronchus (rbr), aortic arch (ao), anterior/retrosternal (acs) and...

Inspiration and Expiration Films

On a film taken in full inspiration, the right hemidiaphragm should project over the 6th anterior interspace or 10th rib posteriorly. Films taken without a full inspiration are described as having a “poor inspiratory result”. This may result from a poor inspiratory...

Musculoskeletal

Hypertrophic First Rib Rib hypertrophy, often at the costochondral junction and particularly involving the first rib, commonly mimics a lung nodule on the PA projection. It has been called “the medical student’s tumor.” Clues that the “nodule” is in fact due to rib...

Posterior Mediastinal Mass

This patient has a well circumscribed mass in the posterior mediastinum. The valve of the lateral view is well depicted in this case; on the frontal radiograph there is no way to localize the lesion. The differential diagnosis for a posterior mediastinal mass...