Table Of ContentM
MAKING SENSE of the A
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Chest X-ray
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When a patient presents to the emergency department, in the GP practice or in the E
outpatient clinic, with a range of clinical signs, the chest X-ray is one of the most o
valuable diagnostic tools available to the attending physician. Accurate interpretation f
and understanding of the chest X-ray is therefore a crucial skill that all medical t
students and junior doctors must acquire in order to formulate quickly an appropriate h
e
management plan.
C
Making Sense of the Chest X-ray is here to help. Written from a problem-oriented
of the
approach, the author shares his extensive experience of teaching this subject, with h MAKING SENSE
‘real life’ scenarios interspersed throughout the text. e
s
Key features: t
Easy-to-read layout featuring ‘pearls of wisdom’, ‘thinking points’ and ‘warning X
boxes’ – aids and encourages reflective practice -
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Over 200 high quality photographs and clear explanatory line diagrams – many a
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brand new for this edition
Chest X-ray
Question-and-answer section for self-testing – invaluable during exam preparation
In the trusted and reliable Making Sense series
Offering advice on when to seek additional or expert opinion, suggestions on how to S
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deal with particularly difficult areas and emphasizing the link between radiographic c
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appearance and clinical findings, the second edition of this well-received guide n
d
remains the perfect introduction to the subject.
e
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The author: it A hands-on guide
io
Paul F. Jenkins Formerly Winthrop Professor of Acute Medicine at the University of n
Western Australia, Perth, Australia and Consultant Physician, Norfolk and Norwich
University Hospital, Norfolk, UK
J
e Second edition
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k
K18668 i
n
s
ISBN 978-1-444-13515-2
Paul F. Jenkins
9 781444 135152
MAKING SENSE of the
Chest X-ray
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of the
MAKING SENSE
Chest X-ray
A hands-on guide
Second edition
Paul F. Jenkins
Formerly Winthrop Professor of Acute
Medicine at the University of Western
Australia
and Boca Raton London New York
Consultant Physician, Norfolk and Norwich
CRC Press is an imprint of the
University Hospital Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
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CRC Press
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© 2013 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
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Contents
Preface vii
Acknowledgements ix
List of abbreviations xi
1 The systematic approach 1
2 The mediastinum and the hila 27
3 Consolidation, collapse and cavitation 45
4 Pulmonary infiltrates, nodular lesions, ring shadows and
calcification 75
5 Pleural disease 113
6 The hypoxaemic patient with a normal chest radiograph 125
7 Practice examples and ‘fascinomas’ 137
Index 159
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Preface
This book is intended as a practical guide for doctors and other healthcare professionals
who need to interpret a chest X-ray comprehensively and competently as part of their
overall assessment of sick patients. The chest radiograph is an immensely valuable tool
and proficiency in its interpretation is a fundamental skill for physicians. Despite this, my
experience has been that clinical doctors are rarely taught practical radiographic techniques
and chest X-ray abnormalities are commonly missed or incorrectly diagnosed as a result.
The book does not provide an exhaustive reference for differential diagnosis based on
the chest X-ray – standard radiology texts exist for this purpose – but, rather, is intended
to engender an accurate and comprehensive approach to radiographic interpretation
by stressing the need for a systematic approach to analysis. Throughout the book,
a problem-solving approach to interpretation is emphasized; if an abnormality is
seen, a sequence of questions is set in train with an active search for supplementary
radiographic signs that might allow a definitive diagnosis – a proactive, systematic
approach is far more efficient and less likely to miss diagnostic radiographic clues.
For example, a chest X-ray showing consolidation in the right mid-zone should
provoke a sequence of active questioning as follows:
●● How well circumscribed is the shadowing?
●● How dense is it (soft tissue or denser)?
●● Is there an air-bronchogram within it?
●● Is cavitation present?
●● Does significant loss of volume accompany the consolidated lung?
●● Is there associated pleural disease, bone disease or lymphadenopathy?
A successful problem-solving approach relies on knowing which questions to ask and I
have tried to address this in the chapters that follow. If, in the example of consolidation
quoted above, further analysis should reveal significant loss of volume in the
consolidated lobe, with an absent air-bronchogram, concerns about proximal bronchial
obstruction and perhaps bronchial carcinoma would be heightened, prompting urgent
further investigation. Alternative diagnostic implications would accrue if cavitation
were observed in the area of consolidation. Specific infective causes of pneumonia,
including Staphylococcus, tuberculosis and Gram-negative organisms then enter the
differential diagnosis as well as non-infective pathologies such as vasculitis. In any case,
clinical concerns would be heightened, further investigations would be mandatory and
management would be facilitated by comprehensive radiographic interpretation.
Another example is illustrated by the X-ray in Fig. 1, showing an alveolar-filling pattern
in the mid-zones, which seems to be perihilar in distribution. The differential diagnosis
here is wide and includes pulmonary oedema, pulmonary alveolar haemorrhage, adult
respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia – in fact, any pathological process that can
result in alveolar filling should be considered. However, further, proactive analysis reveals
additional diagnostic clues with a small right pleural effusion, cardiomegaly and septal lines
at the bases (illustrated in Fig. 2). With this combination of features, one can be confident
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viii Preface
of the diagnosis of heart failure and the presence of sternal sutures provides additional
evidence of heart disease.
Figure 1
Figure 2
The diagnostic usefulness of a chest X-ray is enhanced tremendously when combined
with knowledge of the clinical findings and a ‘collaborative’ diagnostic approach is
encouraged throughout the book, with a ‘clinical connections’ icon ( ) to
emphasize the partnership.
Icons are also used to highlight potential hazards ( ), interesting facts or ‘pearls of
wisdom’ ( ) and topics that link the other chapters ( ).
Finally, I have chosen illustrations that show more than one abnormality. This
is intentional in order to emphasize a fundamental theme of the book, namely
the need for obsessional, systematic interpretation of the chest X-ray. A sequence
of analysis must be adhered to in order to assimilate all of the information the
radiograph has to offer.
Finding an abnormality must not call a halt to analysis. Rather, it should stimulate
a systematic search for additional abnormal findings that will assist in narrowing
the differential diagnosis – in this way, safe and effective patient management will
be optimized.
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Acknowledgements
Much of the discussion in this book has evolved from the ‘problem-solving’ teaching
sessions I have led over the years and I am deeply indebted to those whom I have
taught – I have learnt so much from them.
The team at Hodder has been superb and I extend especial thanks to Joanna Koster,
Jenny Wright and Joanna Silman for their help, forbearance and professionalism.
I was gently guided towards medical studies by my parents, Ioan and Betty Jenkins
and I could never thank them enough. This book is dedicated to them and to my
wife, Glynis, my two sons, David and Peter and to my lovely daughters-in-law,
Janelle and Polly with thanks for their support, advice, love and friendship.
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