This patient has postoperative atelectasis of the entire left lower lobe. The left hemidiaphragm is “silhouetted” and the left hilum displaced downward. On the lateral view, there is an obvious retrocardiac density (the atelectatic lobe) and downward...
This young patient has left lower lobe pneumonia. The left hemidiaphragm is “silhouetted” by consolidation in the left lower lobe (note that one cannot see the entire left hemidiaphragm through the cardiac shadow). In a normal chest x-ray, the diaphragm and...
In a normal chest x-ray, the diaphragm and mediastinal structures are visible because of the difference in radiodensity between lung and these structures (i.e. there is an “interface” between the tissues). The “silhouette” sign refers to loss...
Image A: The left hemidiaphragm is invisible due to a consolidation in the left lower lobe. Image B: The right hemidiaphragm is poorly seen due to consolidation in the right lower lobe. An interface is not visible when two areas of similar radiodensity touch....
The plain AP films of this patient exemplify pulmonary edema. One can easily appreciate the fluffy white opacities throughout the lung field. Other signs such as vascular redistribution, peri-bronchial cuffing, and pleural effusion are difficult to appreciate on this...
