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Hydropneumothorax

Case contributed by Ian Bickle
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Patient attends for follow up following recent thoracic surgery.

Patient Data

Age: 65
Gender: Male
x-ray

Clips at the left hilum in keeping with a recent pneumonectomy.

Air-fluid level in the mid left thoracic cavity, in keeping with a hydropneumothorax.

Case Discussion

Hydropneumothorax describes air and fluid within the pleural space.  It has a typical straight appearance at the air-fluid interface, as opposed to the meniscus of a purley fluid filled pleural collection.

Two of the most common reasons are in trauma and in the early stages following pneumonectomy, as the thorax cavity fills with fluid following surgery.

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