Hair artifact

Case contributed by Ian Bickle
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Cough.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Female
x-ray
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Info

Extensive bilateral alternating linear structures extending from the neck down to the level of the diaphragm.

Curvilinear right-sided metallic artifact in the right neck region.

Heart size normal. Lungs clear.

Thoracic scoliosis. 

Repeat radiograph, undertaken 1 minute later.

x-ray
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Heart size normal. Lungs clear.

Thoracic scoliosis.

Case Discussion

The first radiograph has extensive hair artifact - the hair being long extending to the bottom of the back, almost certainly modified.

The dangly ear-ring has also been removed by the time of the second radiograph.

An example of a very pronounced hair artifact, recognized by the radiographer with a repeat radiograph of diagnostic quality, performed immediately afterwards.

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