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Right middle lobe collapse

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Shortness of breath

Patient Data

Age: Adult
Gender: Male

PA chest x-ray

x-ray

PA chest x-ray demonstrated some increase in density in the right lower zone, medially. The right heart border is somewhat ill-defined. The horizontal fissure cannot be identified. 

Lateral chest x-ray

x-ray

Lateral projection demonstrates a triangular opacity projecting over the cardiac shadow. The horizontal fissure cannot be identified. 

Annotated x-rays

Annotated image

On frontal projection the right heart border is not clearly seen (blue dashed line). On lateral projection the right middle lobe appears as a wedge of increased density (orange arrows). 

Case Discussion

This case illustrates the typical appearance of right middle lobe collapse and the importance of a lateral film in confirming the abnormality. 

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