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- assess both lungs and pleural spaces in an ordered and logical fashion
- check that both lungs are of similar volume (allowing for mediastinal asymmetry)
- review each zone in turn, comparing it to the other side. Look for collapse, consolidation or masses
- check around the lateral margin of each lung; markings should extend to the edge.
- check each costophrenic angle; they should both be crisp
- check the hemidiaphragms; they should be visible and crisp all the way to the vertebral bodies
- check behind the heart
- check the cardiac borders; they should be crisp and well-defined