Apical pleural calcification

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Chest pain.

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

Faint pleural calcification at the right apex. No other abnormality. 

Pleural calcification is present along the posterior aspect of the right upper lobe. No associated soft tissue mass. No other areas of calcification noted. Lungs are clear with no suspicious pulmonary nodule or mass. Heart and mediastinum are unremarkable.

Acute right seventh rib fracture. Buckling of the third to sixth right ribs is of uncertain significance in the setting of old rib fractures but may also be acute. 

Case Discussion

Benign pleural calcification at the right apex. The location is not typical for asbestos related plaques, and is more likely secondary to a previous hemothorax given the multiple old rib fractures.

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