Migrating Lobar Atelectasis of the Right Lung: Radiologic Findings in Six Patients.
- Author:
Tae Sung KIM
1
;
Kyung Soo LEE
;
Jung Hwa HWANG
;
In Wook CHOO
;
Jae Hoon LIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Lung, collapse; Lung, diseases; Lung, radiography
- MeSH: Amyloidosis/radiography; Atelectasis/*radiography; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic/radiography; Female; Human; Lung Diseases/radiography; Male; Middle Age; Posture; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/radiography
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2000;1(1):33-37
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe the radiologic findings of migrating lobar atelectasis of the right lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographs (n = 6) and CT scans (n = 5) of six patients with migrating lobar atelectasis of the right lung were analyzed retrospectively. The underlying diseases associated with lobar atelectasis were bron-chogenic carcinoma (n = 4), bronchial tuberculosis (n = 1), and tracheobronchial amyloidosis (n = 1). RESULTS: Atelectasis involved the right upper lobe (RUL) (n = 3) and both the RUL and right middle lobe (RML) (n = 3). On supine anteroposterior radiographs (n = 5) and on an erect posteroanterior radiograph (n = 1), the atelectatic lobe(s) occupied the right upper lung zone, with a wedge shape abutting onto the right mediastinal border. On erect posteroanterior radiographs (n = 6), the heavy atelectatic lobe(s) migrated downward, forming a perior infrahilar area of increased opacity and obscuring the right cardiac margin. Erect lateral radi-ographs (n = 4) showed inferior shift of the anterosuperiorly located atelectatic lobe(s) to the anteroinferior portion of the hemithorax. CONCLUSION: Atelectatic lobe(s) can move within the hemithorax according to changes in a patient's position. This process involves the RUL or both the RUL and RML.
