Left paraspinal line
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Hacking C, Sharma R, et al. Left paraspinal line. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-23549
rID:
23549
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Revisions:
4 times, by
4 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Left paraspinous line
- Left paravertebral line
- Left paravertebral stripe
- Left paraspinous stripe
- Left paraspinal stripe
The left paraspinal (also known as the paraspinous or paravertebral) line (or stripe) is a feature of frontal chest x-rays. It is formed by the interface between the left lung and the left posterior mediastinal soft tissues 1. It is more commonly seen than the right paraspinal line.
Lateral displacement of the left paraspinal line can be due to 1-3:
- osteophytes
- mediastinal fat
- posterior mediastinal or spinal pathology
- haematoma: often from traumatic vertebral fractures
- malignancy: especially neurogenic tumours
- infection
- lymphadenopathy
- extramedullary haematopoiesis
- descending thoracic aortic aneurysm
- oesophageal varices
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
- seen on ~35% (range 31-41%) of frontal chest x-rays 1,2
- appears as a vertical line extending from the aortic arch to (or below) the diaphragm, typically lying medial to the lateral wall of the descending thoracic aorta but occasionally will lie lateral to the aorta 1,3
References
- 1. Gibbs JM, Chandrasekhar CA, Ferguson EC et-al. Lines and stripes: where did they go?-From conventional radiography to CT. Radiographics. 2007;27 (1): 33-48. Radiographics (full text) -
- 2. Marano R, Liguori C, Savino G et-al. Cardiac silhouette findings and mediastinal lines and stripes: radiograph and CT scan correlation. Chest. 01;139 (5): 1186-96. doi:10.1378/chest.10-0660 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Whitten CR, Khan S, Munneke GJ et-al. A diagnostic approach to mediastinal abnormalities. Radiographics. 2007;27 (3): 657-71. Radiographics (full text) - doi:10.1148/rg.273065136 - Pubmed citation
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