Right lower lobe atelectasis

Answer - right lower lobe atelectasis

This patient had fall and underwent orthopedic surgery. The right lower lobe atelectasis is presumably due to reluctance of the patient to breath due to pain

Notice -

- The right cardiac border is still preserved

- The right opacity has silhouetted the right hemidiaphragm ( this is the RLL atelectasis )

- There is some loculated pleural effusion posterolaterally ( possibly due to hemothorax after the fall )

Opacities in one hemithorax

1) Consolidation - no volume loss hence no tracheal deviation

2) Effusion - 'volume gain' so the fluid will push the trachea and mediastinum to the healthy part

3) Atelectasis - volume loss so the trachea and mediastinum will be 'pulled' to the affected part

Take home points

1) Learn this diagram

2) Learn three common causes of 'white out' hemithorax

Reference

Radiology Assistant - Chest