Frontal and lateral chest radiographs demonstrates multiple bone and soft tissue findings associated with sickle cell disease:
- H-shaped vertebrae with central end plate depression involving the superior and inferior endplates
- Bilateral patchy humeral head sclerosis consistent with epiphyseal infarction
- Absent splenic shadow with loops of bowel replacing the left upper quadrant abdomen suggesting autosplenectomy. Later confirmed on CT (not shown)
- Calcified gallstones seen in the right upper quadrant abdomen from radio-opaque bilirubin/pigmented gallstones
- Enlarged heart secondary to chronic anemia
- Enlarged liver shadow (not completely imaged) in keeping with hepatomegaly