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Medical alert monitor

Case contributed by Karine Morche
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

99 year old female presented with shortness of breath.

Patient Data

Age: 99 years
Gender: Female
x-ray
  1. Approximately 6.5 cm sized adult medical alert monitor is seen projecting over the left lower chest (confirmed by x-ray technologist). No acute displaced fracture.
  2. Mild-to-moderate diffuse bilateral peribronchial thickening mainly in the upper and mid zones, and mild interstitial prominence mainly in the left mid zone may be due to reactive airway disease or a viral process versus a chronic finding.
  3. Streaky and bandlike left retrocardiac densities with obliteration of the CP angle may be due to atelectasis and/or early pneumonia with small left pleural effusion. No definite right effusion or pneumothorax.
  4. The heart appears mildly enlarged without significant pulmonary vascular congestion considering technique.
  5. Small surgical clips and staples are seen in the lower neck. Dense atherosclerotic calcifications are noted in the aortic knob.

Case Discussion

Approximately 6.5 cm sized adult medical alert monitor is seen projecting over the left lower chest (confirmed by x-ray technologist). It could look like the patient had ingested an electronic device, had an ambulatory cardiac monitor or had an XIO patch. 

An alert monitor is commonly used by elder patients in order to call for help at any instance. Some of these devices also automatically detect falls.

This case was submitted with supervision and input from:

Soni C. Chawla, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Radiological Sciences
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Olive View - UCLA Medical Center

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