Pulmonary bullae

Case contributed by Bruno Di Muzio
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Minor trauma to the chest. Pleuritic chest pain.

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Male

Chest radiographs

x-ray

Absence of lung markings and curvilinear opacities, suggestive of apical lung bullae are seen at the right lung apex. There is no significant change between inspiration and expiration. This would be more in keeping with the presence of apical bullae compared to pneumothorax.

CT Chest 1 mth ago

ct

CT study from one year ago confirms the right upper lobe bullae. 

Case Discussion

Pulmonary bullae are focal regions of emphysema with no discernible wall which measure more than 1 cm in diameter. 

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