Companion shadows are smooth, homogeneous, radiopaque shadows running parallel along the bones. In a study of 700 chest radiographs, Ben Felson found that 75% had companion shadows on the lower ribs 3.
Radiographic features
They appear secondary to soft tissues and intercostal muscles running along 3:
Practical points
Companion shadows need to be differentiated from periosteal reactions secondary to adjacent bony or soft tissue pathology.