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Acquired intercostal lung hernia complicated by pneumonia

Case contributed by Christof Igler
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Intercostal retraction on the right side. Elevated inflammatory markers.

Patient Data

Age: 80 years
Gender: Male

Subpleural ovoid opacity in the right middle lung field, a pleural effusion was suspected.

Prior for comparison

x-ray

No salient abnormality in a prior study.

Segment 8 of the right lower lobe has herniated through a chest wall defect. The herniated segment shows a pneumonia.

Case Discussion

Extrathoracic lung hernias can be congenital or acquired. Acquired hernias may be classified by etiology into traumatic, spontaneous, and pathologic.

CT can clearly confirm the presence of the herniated lung and exclude possible complications such as lung tissue strangulation or infection.

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