Post-pneumonectomy chest X-ray

Hover on/off image to show/hide findings

Tap on/off image to show/hide findings

Click image to align with top of page

Post-pneumonectomy chest X-ray

  • It is important to be aware of the surgical history when interpreting a chest X-ray
  • This patient has had a right pneumonectomy (removal of a lung)
  • The heart occupies the right hemithorax
  • There is compensatory hyperexpansion of the left lung
  • The X-ray could be considered ‘normal’ for this patient
  • See another example of pneumonectomy

Post-lobectomy chest X-ray

Hover on/off image to show/hide findings

Tap on/off image to show/hide findings

Click image to align with top of page

Post-lobectomy chest X-ray

  • This patient had a history of a right lower lobectomy to remove a lung cancer
  • Blunting of the costophrenic angle could be misinterpreted as a pleural effusion if this history is not known
  • The right lung is reduced in volume – raised hilum and hemidiaphragm
  • The X-ray could be considered ‘normal’ for this patient
  • Compare with pleural effusion

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

Last reviewed: October 2019