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Effect of expiratory phase on lung density

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis not applicable

Presentation

?pneumothorax

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Female

AP supine inspiratory and expiratory projections. No pneumothorax is identified. There is a left medial basal mixed collapse and consolidation and minor left apical opacity. Minimal right basal atelectasis. Allowing for the projection, the heart size is within normal limits. Spine fixation devices are identified.

Note the degree of density change due to expiration. 

Case Discussion

It is easy to forget how important inspiration is to overall lung density. In this case inspiratory and expiratory views demonstrate a stark difference, sometimes without a great deal of obvious volume change. 

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