December 2012 Imaging Case of the Month

Michael B. Gotway, MD

Associate Editor Imaging

Department of Radiology

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ

Clinical History: A 40-year-old man presented with persistent left chest and flank pain one year following emergent spine surgery for a traumatic burst fracture of L2 associated with left diaphragmatic injury. Frontal chest radiography (Figure 1) was performed.

Figure 1. Frontal (A) and lateral (B) chest radiography.

Which of the following statements regarding the chest radiograph is most accurate?

1. The chest radiograph shows left lower lobe mass-like consolidation
2. The chest radiograph shows diffuse interstitial thickening
3. The chest radiograph shows a large left pleural effusion
4. The chest radiograph shows a left-sided mediastinal mass
5. The chest radiograph shows a left hydropneumothorax

Reference as: Gotway MB. December 2012 imaging case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care 2012;5:286-91. PDF