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Oxygen mask and tubing artifact (portable radiograph)

Case contributed by Amanda Er
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

COVID-19 pneumonia with overnight desaturation, for bedside imaging.

Patient Data

Age: 85 years
Gender: Female

Patchy air space opacities are noted in the bilateral mid to lower zones and left retrocardiac region which may be suggestive of worsening infective changes. A small left pleural effusion is noted with adjacent atelectasis.

No gross pneumothorax is detected. No subdiaphragmatic free gas is seen. Aortic calcifications are noted. Degenerative changes are noted of the imaged spine on a background of diffuse osteopenia. An old right 9th rib fracture is also seen.

Annotated images outlining the oxygen mask (pink) and oxygen tubing (blue) from the original frontal chest radiograph.

Case Discussion

This portable radiography case features a chest radiograph and corresponding annotated diagrams that depict the presence of the patient's oxygen mask and tubing providing them with a high flow of oxygen.

Although radiographers may attempt to move these external artifacts away from the region of interest (lung field), they may still be seen on chest x-rays. Hence, it is important for members of the healthcare team to recognize what these artifacts represent, to prevent confusing them with other lines and tubes within the chest, or anatomical abnormalities.

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