Faces of Atelectasis Shape

Linear Atelectasis

47 M with persistent discoid atelectasis, and elevated diaphragm currently with persistent but improved left pleural effusion
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net
Linear Atelectasis
60 year old male with linear (discoid) atelectasis in the middle lobe and the left upper lobe on CT. Note moderate sized bilateral pleural effusion.  Minor compressive atelectasis caused by the left effusion.
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net
Linear Atelectasis aka Discoid Atelectasis
56-year-old male with linear atelectasis in the medial segment of the middle lobe of the lung
Ashley Davidoff MD The CommonVein.net 56 M lungs atelectasis 001

Crescentic

Mild Bilateral Crescentic Pneumonic Consolidation

Compressive Atelectasis due to Left Pleural Effusion
58year old male presents with dyspnea. CT scan shows bilateral pleural effusions with crescentic region of compressive atelectasis in the left lower lobe
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net

Crescents

Luftsichel Sign
Left Upper Lobe Collapse and Luftsichel Sign

CXR Frontal View
Left Upper Lobe Atelectasis
Female patient with central squamous cell carcinoma of the lung with left upper lobe collapse and hyperinflation of the left lower lobe resulting in a Luftsichel sign
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net 152Lu
Compressive Atelectasis Alongside the Aorta
68 year old male with a cough.
CT shows Compressive Atelectasis alongside the pulsating aorta
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net
37493

Right Upper Lobe
PA Chest X-Ray
Triangular Shape on the PA View

55M with dyspnea
CXR shows right upper lobe (RUL) atelectasis. Final diagnosis was a central RUL proximal squamous cell carcinoma with extensive filling of the distal bronchi-ectatic segmental and subsegmental airways
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net

Triangular Shape

CT scan of Central Squamous Cell Carcinoma with extensive filling of the distal bronchi-ectatic segmental and subsegmental airways with atelectasis of the right upper lobe
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net

Triangular Shaped Left Upper Lobe Collapse

Left Upper Lobe Atelectasis (Collapse) Caused by Central Squamous Cell Carcinoma
82-year-old female with dyspnea presents with an obstructing and infiltrating central squamous cell carcinoma of the left main stem bronchus with secondary post obstructive atelectasis of the left upper lobe of the lung. In addition, there is encasement of the left pulmonary artery and a small left effusion. A spiculated lesion at the base of the left breast in close association with the left pectoralis muscle The lesion also extends beyond the muscle to abut the rib. There is a small amount of fluid in the pericardial recess, and an small left pleural effusion.
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net RnD case

Triangular Shaped Right Lower Lobe

Right Lower Lobe Atelectasis and ABPA

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) and Atelectasis
77 year old male presents chest discomfort
CT scan without contrast shows atelectasis of the right lower lobe )asterisk c and r) and also seen axial projection (a) magnified in (b) and in (c) magnified in {d) Red arrowheads in b and d show airways filled with material. Aspergillus was isolated at bronchoscopy. Coronal imaging (e magnified in f) show silhouetting of the right hemidiaphragm by the atelectatic lung (white arrowheads
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net 117786cL

 

Pie Shaped Lateral

55M with dyspnea
CXR shows right upper lobe (RUL) atelectasis. Final diagnosis was a central RUL proximal squamous cell carcinoma with extensive filling of the distal bronchi-ectatic segmental and subsegmental airways
Ashley Davidoff TheCommonVein.net

Rectangular Shape Lingula

CT Endobronchial Lesion in the Left Main Stem Bronchus and Lingula Atelectasis
58-year-old female presents with a cough. CT in the axial plane shows an obstructing lesion in the left mainstem bronchus of the lung with post obstructive atelectasis of the lingula and a small portion of aerated left upper lobe anteriorly.  T he major fissure is displaced anteriorly.
Pathology revealed findings consistent with a carcinoid tumor of the left bronchus.
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net 257Lu 136110

 

 

Middle Lobe

Right Lower Lobe

Left Upper Lobe
Lingula

Silhouetting Left Heart Border
Veiling Effect
Horizontal Main Stem and
Vertical LLL bronchovascular Bundle

CXR Silhouetting Left heart Border Lingula Atelectasis
58-year-old female presents with a cough Frontal CXR shows silhouetting of the left heart border with hazy or veiling opacity extending out from the left hilum and fading out inferiorly . The left hilum is pulled superiorly, resulting in an almost horizontal course of the left main bronchus and vertical orientation of the left lower lobe bronchus
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net 257Lu 136109
CXR Silhouetting Left heart Border Lingula Atelectasis
58-year-old female presents with a cough Frontal CXR shows silhouetting of the left heart border with hazy or veiling opacity extending out from the left hilum and fading out inferiorly (white circle c). The left hilum is pulled superiorly (teal arrowhead b) , resulting in an almost horizontal course of the left main bronchus and vertical orientation of the left lower lobe bronchovascular bundle (dark blue arrowhead b)
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net 257Lu 136109cL01

Silhouetting of the Left Heart Border

CT Lingula Atelectasis Silhouetting of the Left Heart Border
58-year-old female presents with a cough. CT in the coronal plane shows post obstructive atelectasis of the lingula which silhouettes the left heart border. A small portion of aerated left upper lobe is noted in the left apex.
Pathology revealed findings consistent with a carcinoid tumor of the left bronchus.
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net 257Lu 136115

Left Lower Lobe

Segmental

Wedge Shaped Right Middle Lobe Lateral Segment
Sub Segmental Atelectasis

Atelectasis,  Mild Bronchial Wall Thickening, and Bronchiolectasis in the RML, Lingula and Bilateral Lower Lobes
CT Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA)
48 year old female with a history of asthma presents with productive cough. CT scan 18 months prior confirms atelectasis in the middle lobe (upper panel and right lower panel) .  There is  diffuse  mild multicentric foci of bronchial wall thickening in the segmental and subsegmental airways of  the middle lobe, lingula and the lower lobes bilaterally (upper panel magnified in lower 3 panels).
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net

Rounded Atelectasis

Rounded Atelectasis (aka Folded Lung Syndrome) and Asbestos Related disease
72-year-old male with a history of asbestos exposure presents with a cough. Axial CTscan shows a pleural based nodule with a comet tail and a series of lung markings folded into the nodule. There is subsegmental compensatory hyperinflation of the lateral segment of the right lower lobe Noted bilateral pleural thickening and pleural based calcification which is reminiscent of asbestos related disease. Early evolution of rounded atelectasis is also noted in the left lower lobe
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net RnD 240Lu
Rounded Atelectasis (aka Folded Lung Syndrome) and Asbestos Related disease
72-year-old male with a history of asbestos exposure presents with a cough. Axial CTscan shows a magnified view of a pleural based nodule with a comet tail and a series of lung markings folded into the nodule. There is subsegmental compensatory hyperinflation of the lateral segment of the right lower lobe Noted pleural thickening and pleural based calcification which is reminiscent of asbestos related disease.
Ashley Davidoff MD TheCommonVein.net RnD 240Lu

 

 

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