Subpulmonic pleural effusion

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Increasing shortness of breath. Cough for 3 days. Past history of left heart failure.

Patient Data

Age: 75 years
Gender: Male
x-ray
Frontal
Lateral
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Info

Apparent elevation of the right hemidiaphragm but with a lateralized dome (arrow) on the anterior view and minor but definite fluid tracking up the oblique fissure on the lateral projection (arrow).

2 days later

x-ray
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Info

Performed 2 days later following insertion of a drainage catheter

Case Discussion

Subpulmonic effusions sit between the lung and hemidiaphragm, and can be difficult to differentiate from elevated hemidiaphragm on the chest X-ray.

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