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Cicatrisation collapse

Case contributed by Yi-Jin Kuok
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Cough and fever.

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

Left lower lobe consolidation congruent with the patient's infective symptoms.
Diagnosis: severe pneumonia.

Three years later

x-ray

Retrocardiac density in keeping with left lower lobe collapse. Splaying of the left upper lobe vessels (compared to the right) suggesting hyperexpansion - this is subtle.

ct

Volume loss of the left lower lobe. No aortic vessel to suggest sequestration.

Case Discussion

Lobar collapse refers to collapse of an entire lobe of the lung. As such it is a subtype of atelectasis, which is a more generic term for 'incomplete expansion'. Individual lobes of the lung may collapse due to obstruction of the supplying bronchus. 

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