Right middle lobe consolidation

Last revised by Ian Bickle ◉ on 2 Oct 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Danaher L, Bickle I, Sharma R, et al. Right middle lobe consolidation. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9190

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9190

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/9190?embed_domain=hackmd.io%2F%40yIPUAFeCSL2JsU8smR5nJQ%2Fbnjhjgjghjghjgh

rID:

9190

Article created:

23 Mar 2010, Luke Danaher

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Luke Danaher had no recorded disclosures.

View Luke Danaher's current disclosures

Last revised:

2 Oct 2022, Ian Bickle ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Ian Bickle had the following disclosures:

4ways diagostics, I work for this out sourcing company during non NHS hours (ongoing)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Ian Bickle's current disclosures

Revisions:

23 times, by 11 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Chest

Sections:

Gamuts

Tags:

rml, refs, infectiousdisease

Synonyms:

RML consolidation
Right middle lobe (RML) consolidation
Consolidation of the right middle lobe

Right middle lobe consolidation refers to consolidation in part (incomplete) or all (complete) of the right middle lobe.

opacification of the right lower zone, that may abut and outline the inferior margin of the horizontal fissure
indistinct appearance or obscuration of the right heart border (silhouette sign) (cf. right lower lobe consolidation)
normal (clear and distinct) right superior mediastinal contour (cf. right upper lobe consolidation)
normal (clear and distinct) right hemidiaphragm contour (cf. right lower lobe consolidation)
- occasionally there may be obscuration of the medial aspect of the right hemidiaphragm
air bronchograms
on lateral CXR: triangular opacification between the horizontal (superiorly) and right oblique fissures (posteriorly)

General considerations

It must be remembered that the homogeneity of the consolidation will be influenced by any underlying lung disease.

Occasionally with complete lobar consolidation, there may be an increased volume of the affected lobe, rather than the more frequent collapse. When the fissures are outwardly convex, the appearance is referred to as the bulging fissure sign.

A mnemonic to remember the general features of consolidation is A²BC³.