Correct!
3. The frontal chest radiograph shows abnormally increased lung volumes
The cardiac and mediastinal contours appear normal, and there is no evidence of abnormal linear or reticular opacities to suggest an infiltrative disorder of the interstitium. No pneumothorax is present. However, the frontal chest radiograph is not normal- the lung volumes are abnormally increased. The increased lung volumes are evidenced by not only the abnormally large cephalocaudad appearance of the thorax, but also the increased retrosternal clear space and flattening of the diaphragms, the latter best seen on the lateral chest radiograph (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Frontal and lateral chest radiography shows large lung volumes, evidenced by flattening of the diaphragms, increased retrosternal clear space (line), and visualization of slips of the diaphragm (arrowheads). Focal nodular opacity is also present at the left lateral base.
The patient was treated for presumed community-acquired pneumonia, given the focal opacity at the left base. Several months later, he returned with continued complaints of shortness of breath. A repeat chest x-ray was performed (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Repeat frontal chest radiography.
Which of the following statements regarding the repeat chest radiograph is most accurate? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the third of seven panels)