Complete white out - massive pleural effusion

Case contributed by Ian Bickle
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

No prior medical history. Shortness of breath and fever.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Female

Complete opacification of the left hemithorax.  

The trachea and heart are shifted to the right.

Right lung clear.

Case Discussion

This chest x-ray demonstrates the typical appearances of a 'complete white-out' resulting from a large pleural effusion.  The mediastinal shift indicating a large volume of fluid in the left thoracic cavity.

In this case, it was a large parapneumonic pleural effusion.   She underwent thoracocentesis.

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