Lines, Fissures and Silhouettes – CXR

Preparation: Plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour familiarizing yourself with the background information below, key findings on the chest radiographs and the progressions of animations on the PowerPoint. This conference is intended as the introduction to our six-part chest radiogragh conference series.  Each case builds on foundational concepts of lung anatomy, differntiating tissue planes and localizing tube, line and drain placement is specific anatomic chambers.

How to present: Present the PowerPoint either by expanding the window (bottom right icon on the viewer below) in a browser or downloading the PowerPoint file to use on a desktop app (downloading is recommended).  Have the image pulled up in presenter mode before learners look at the screen to avoid revealing the diagnosis. Each case progresses through three or more questions, beginning with an overall interpretation, identification of a generalizable rule and a clinical integration question.  We recommend a pair-share structure with a junior and senior trainee.  For each successive question the presenter can elect to have pairs discuss their thoughts then ask for a volunteer to share or, to expedite the conference, simply ask for audience response.   question Ask a leaner to provide an overall interpretation.  Advance using the  keyboard arrows or mouse click to reveal subsequent questions then answers with their accompanying graphics.  You can go back to prior graphics and questions by using the back arrow or scrolling back on the mouse wheel.

Case 1: Fissures

Official CXR Read: Sternotomy wires with two prosthetic valves.  Right middle and lower lobe airspace opacities with parapneumonic effusions in the right-sided fissures and subpulmonic space along with a small effusion in left costo-phrenic sulcus. 

Diagnosis: Right middle lobe pneumonia and parapneumonic effusions

Teaching: The focus of this talk is on the identification of lobes and fissures.  The right has a minor fissure seen on both AP and lateral views while the left does not have a minor fissure.  The major fissure for either side is best seen on the lateral view and differentiated by whether or not the fissure extends all the way to the diaphragm (right) or stops at the mediastinum (left). 

Case 2: Silhouette sign – RML PNA

Official CXR Read: Dense right middle lobe consolidation and small right pleural effusion

Diagnosis: Right middle lobe pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion

Teaching: A lung opacity in the mid-right lung fields with loss of the right heart border suggests a dense right middle lobe (RML) process.  This is an example of the ‘silhouette sign', the loss of a normal radiographic interface (e.g lung and mediastinum), due to similar density substances in direct contact.  This makes it difficult to distinguish the borders of two tissues.   A secondary finding is the small right pleural effusion.  A pleural effusion adjacent to pneumonia is often due to inflammatory reactive fluid and termed a parapneumonic effusion.  If the infection extends into the pleural effusion, it is classified as an empyema.

Case 3: Right mainstem intubation

Official CXR Read: Right IJ line terminates in the distal SVC. Enteric tube reaches the proximal stomach. ET tube is been placed and extends approximately 1.7 cm into the right mainstem bronchus. Diffuse lung opacities more focal right basal consolidation. There are is a small right pleural effusion.

Diagnosis: Acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to sepsis from spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Teaching: An endotracheal tube should terminate 2-4 cm above the carina. The tube must be low enough to ensure that the cuff will inflate below the vocal cords (avoid vocal cord trauma), and high enough to adequately ventilate both lungs.

Case 4: Central lines

Official CXR Read: The right IJ dialysis catheter and left central venous catheter terminate in the distal superior vena cava. The endotracheal tube terminates above the level of the carina. An esophageal probe and orogastric tube are present.

Bibasilar airspace opacities. Small pleural effusions. No pneumothorax. Dilated bowel beneath left diaphragm.

Diagnosis: Left lower lobe pneumonia, non-specific bowel dilation

Teaching:

• 1. An internal jugular central venous catheter should terminate in the distal superior vena cava, approximately at the level of the carina.
  2. Dialysis catheters are thicker and less flexible than triple lumen catheters, and therefore preferentially placed on the right (straighter trajectory).

Case 5: Gastric tube in left lung

Official CXR Read: Extensive bilateral multifocal alveolar opacities. A new weighted tip feeding tube appears to course through the left mainstem bronchus, with tip projecting over the lateral left lung.  This may be in the pleural space. Endotracheal tube tip projects over the mid intrathoracic trachea (~4cm above the carina).  Right IJ central venous catheter tip projects over the superior vena cava terminating at the cavo-atrial juction.

Diagnosis: Mispositioned weighted feeding tube in left lung field requiring removal and replacement.

Teaching:

• • The radiograph demonstrates multifocal alveolar opacities due to ARDS.
  • If a malpositioned gastric tube extends to the pleura it may lead to a pneumothorax.  After repositioning the tube conder a repeat CXR in addition to the KUB.
  • Gastric tubes (nasogastric, orogastric) are commonly placed for enteral access for medication administration and nutrition along with gastric decompression.

A 2-step process for determining appropriate gastric tube placement:

1. 1. 1. Does the tube change directions at the carina?
      2. Does the tube end below the diaphragm/cardiac silhouette?
      3. (optional) Is the tip of the tube pointing towards the pylorus

Case 6: Pacemakers and ICDs

Official CXR Read:. Enlarged cardiac contour. Pacing device in place. No focal consolidation. No pleural effusions.

Clinical Diagnosis:. Cardiogenic shock due to non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

Teaching: This is usually 2-4 sentences of expanded explanations for major teaching points (usually Q2).  Include references if quoting rules or specific numbers.  This patient has a cardiac resynchronization therapy – defibrillator (CRT-D). This device contains three leads. The leads are introduced into the subclavian vein. One lead terminates in the right atrium and senses electrical activity. The next lead terminates in the right ventricle, where it can pace. The final lead courses from the right atrium into the coronary sinus (which drains the cardiac veins) and abuts the left ventricle, where it can pace this chamber. Simultaneous pacing of the right and left ventricle (resynchronization therapy) can improve ejection fraction, NYHA classification, reduce hospitalizations and mortality in patients with severe heart failure who have a prolonged QRS (>150ms or LBBB and >130ms). Most patients with an indication for CRT have a concomitant indication for an ICD as primary prevention of SCD. (3, 4)  However, a CRT-D comes with limitations and risks including higher costs, higher infection risk, greater likelihood of recall and less reliable pacing. (5)