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Lung cancer - retrocardiac

Case contributed by Ian Bickle
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Smoker. Shortness of breath and chronic cough.

Patient Data

Age: 50
Gender: Female
x-ray

3 cm mass behind the left side of the heart.

The remainder of the lungs are clear.

Heart size normal.

Case Discussion

Plain radiograph reporting volumes are large. Radiologists often and out of necessity report these at speed:

  • never forget the review areas
  • the retrocardiac area tends to be the review area holding the largest amount of serious pathology if missed
  • the larger the patient and less penetrated the film the harder it is to visualized this area

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