Right paraspinal line
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Hacking C, Sharma R, et al. Right paraspinal line. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-23542
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rID:
23542
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:
7 times, by
6 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Right paravertebral stripe
- Right paraspinous line
- Right paravertebral line
- Right paraspinal stripe
- Right paraspinous stripe
The right paraspinal (also known as the paraspinous or paravertebral) line (or stripe) is a feature of frontal chest x-rays and is formed by the interface of the right lung and the posterior mediastinal soft tissue.
The right paraspinal line can be laterally displaced by a range of posterior mediastinal pathology 1-3:
- osteophytes
- mediastinal fat
- posterior mediastinal or spinal pathology
- hematoma: often from traumatic vertebral fractures
- malignancy: especially neurogenic tumors
- infection
- lymphadenopathy
- extramedullary hematopoiesis
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
- seen on ~25% of frontal chest x-rays 1,3
- appears as a straight vertical line in close approximation to the right-side of T8 to T12 vertebral levels 1,2
- paraspinal lines project below the diaphragm 2
CT
- identifiable ~5 mm right lateral to the spine 1
References
- 1. 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
- 2. 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
- 3. 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) -
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