Hemithorax white-out
Dr Alexandra Stanislavsky and Dr Laughlin Dawes et al.
Complete white-out of a hemithorax on the chest x-ray has a limited number of causes. The differential diagnosis can be shortened further with one simple observation - the position of the trachea. Is it central, pulled or pushed from the side of opacification?
Trachea pulled toward the opacified side
- pneumonectomy
- total lung collapse: e.g. endobronchial intubation
- pulmonary agenesis
- pulmonary hypoplasia
Trachea remains central in position
- consolidation
- pulmonary edema / ARDS
- pleural mass: e.g. mesothelioma
- chest wall mass: e.g Askin / Ewing sarcoma
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