Right upper lobe collapse

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Right upper lobe collapse

  • Dense shadowing at the right upper zone is due to collapse of the right upper lobe
  • The horizontal fissure (white dotted line) is raised from its normal position (red line) because of volume loss of the collapsed right upper lobe
  • The contour of the obstructing mass is visible and it causes the horizontal fissure to appear S-shaped
  • This is the 'Golden S' sign - a sign highly predictive of lung cancer obstructing the right upper lobe bronchus

Left upper lobe collapse

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Left upper lobe collapse

  • There is a veil-like appearance of the left lung
  • The aortic knuckle remains well-defined due to the adjacent left lower lobe which remains full of air and interposes the collapsed upper lobe and the aortic arch
  • The left heart border is obscured and the left hemidiaphragm is raised indicating lung volume loss
  • These are the typical appearance of left upper lobe collapse
  • A mass which is just visible at the left hilum is causing collapse of the left upper lobe

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: October 2019