Increased retrosternal airspace

Last revised by Owen Kang on 27 Jul 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Kang O, Knipe H, Increased retrosternal airspace. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9202

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9202

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/9202?iframe=true

rID:

9202

Article created:

23 Mar 2010, Frank Gaillard ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

27 Jul 2022, Owen Kang

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Owen Kang had no recorded disclosures.

View Owen Kang's current disclosures

Revisions:

2 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Chest

Sections:

Approach

Increased retrosternal airspace is an indicator of hyperinflation of the lungs and is usually due to emphysema.

The thickness of the space between the ascending aorta and the posterior margin of the sternum (3 cm inferior to the sternomanubrial joint) and is normally no more than 2.5 cm ¹ although some authors say up to 4 cm may be normal ².