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Title: Asymptomatic opacity of the left hemithorax in an adult

Abstract

A 30-year-old man was admitted for removal of a Silastic rod inserted four months earlier after a traumatic laceration of the flexor tendon of his left fifth finger. Otherwise he was asymptomatic and specifically denied any symptoms referable to the chest (and heart). He was a nonsmoker and had a normal history of development in childhood. The trachea was shifted to the left. The left hemithorax was dull to percussion. Expansion of the chest and vocal and tactile fremitus were reduced over the left hemithorax, and breath sounds also were decreased on the left side. The results of the remainder of the physical examination were completely normal. The roentgenograms of the chest demonstrate almost total opacification of the left hemithorax with narrowing of the intercostal spaces on the left, elevation of the left diaphragmatic leaflet, and marked shift of the mediastinal structures and trachea into the left hemithorax. Tomographic studies of the chest showed absence of the normal carina with no demonstrable bronchus to the left lung. Radionuclide ventilation/perfusion scans were performed. Complete (total) unilateral agenesis of the left lung is an uncommon congenital anomaly usually associated with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and/or vertebral abnormalities.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
OSTI Identifier:
6796573
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 257:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; LUNGS; BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY; COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY; RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES; DIAGNOSIS; OPACITY; PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES; PATIENTS; BODY; COUNTING TECHNIQUES; DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES; DISEASES; MEDICINE; NUCLEAR MEDICINE; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; ORGANS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; RADIOLOGY; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; TOMOGRAPHY; 550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics; 550602 - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)

Citation Formats

Delfa, I L, McLean, J S, and Hoffstein, V. Asymptomatic opacity of the left hemithorax in an adult. United States: N. p., 1987. Web. doi:10.1001/jama.257.2.225.
Delfa, I L, McLean, J S, & Hoffstein, V. Asymptomatic opacity of the left hemithorax in an adult. United States. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.257.2.225
Delfa, I L, McLean, J S, and Hoffstein, V. 1987. "Asymptomatic opacity of the left hemithorax in an adult". United States. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.257.2.225.
@article{osti_6796573,
title = {Asymptomatic opacity of the left hemithorax in an adult},
author = {Delfa, I L and McLean, J S and Hoffstein, V},
abstractNote = {A 30-year-old man was admitted for removal of a Silastic rod inserted four months earlier after a traumatic laceration of the flexor tendon of his left fifth finger. Otherwise he was asymptomatic and specifically denied any symptoms referable to the chest (and heart). He was a nonsmoker and had a normal history of development in childhood. The trachea was shifted to the left. The left hemithorax was dull to percussion. Expansion of the chest and vocal and tactile fremitus were reduced over the left hemithorax, and breath sounds also were decreased on the left side. The results of the remainder of the physical examination were completely normal. The roentgenograms of the chest demonstrate almost total opacification of the left hemithorax with narrowing of the intercostal spaces on the left, elevation of the left diaphragmatic leaflet, and marked shift of the mediastinal structures and trachea into the left hemithorax. Tomographic studies of the chest showed absence of the normal carina with no demonstrable bronchus to the left lung. Radionuclide ventilation/perfusion scans were performed. Complete (total) unilateral agenesis of the left lung is an uncommon congenital anomaly usually associated with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and/or vertebral abnormalities.},
doi = {10.1001/jama.257.2.225},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6796573}, journal = {JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 257:2,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}