Malpositioned nasogastric tube

Case contributed by Leonardo Lustosa
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Nasogastric tube (NGT) positioning confirmation.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

The nasogastric tube is malpositioned. It coils below the diaphragm and then ascends the esophagus.

x-ray

Control after repositioning shows the NGT now correctly placed.

Annotated image

Annotated images showing the outline of the tubes on the radiographs performed.

Case Discussion

A correctly placed nasogastric tube should:

  1. go down the midline

  2. bisect the carina

  3. cross the diaphragm

  4. have its tip below the left hemidiaphragm

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.