Pleural effusion chest x ray

Pleural effusion Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Chest films acquired in the lateral decubitus position (with the patient lying on their side) are more sensitive, and can pick up as little as 50 ml of fluid. At least 300 ml of fluid must be present before upright chest films can pick up signs of pleural effusion (e.g., blunted costophrenic angles).

Chest X Ray

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  Pleural effusion Chest x-ray of a pleural effusion. The arrow A shows fluid layering in the right pleural cavity. The B arrow shows the normal width of the lung in the cavity

Small bilateral pleural effusions that layer with decubitus views

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