🫀 Expected CXR findings:
• Enlarged, globular “water-bottle” cardiac silhouette.
• Clear lung fields (helps distinguish from heart failure).
• Rapid enlargement suggests tamponade rather than chronic effusion.
⚠️ CXR is insensitive for acute tamponade — echo is diagnostic.

Instant

🦠 Expected CXR findings:
• Focal consolidation in the right lower zone.
• Loss of right hemidiaphragm outline (silhouette sign).
• Possible air bronchograms.
• Mild pleural effusion may coexist.

Pulmonary Oedema

💧 Expected CXR findings:
• Bilateral perihilar “bat-wing” opacities.
• Upper lobe diversion (cephalisation).
• Kerley B lines (interstitial oedema).
• Cardiomegaly ± pleural effusions.

Pneumothorax

🫁 Expected CXR findings:
• Visible visceral pleural line.
• Absence of lung markings peripheral to this line.
• Increased radiolucency on affected side.
• Best seen on expiratory films.

Pneumothorax

🫁 Same core features — sharp pleural line with no distal lung markings.

Pneumothorax

🫁 Apical pneumothorax — subtle early finding: check lung apices carefully.

Tension Pneumothorax

🚨 Expected CXR findings:
• Large pneumothorax with complete lung collapse.
• Mediastinal shift away from affected side.
• Depressed hemidiaphragm.
• Hyperexpanded hemithorax.
⚠️ Clinical diagnosis — do NOT delay decompression for imaging.

Pleural Effusion

Pneumothorax

🫁 Partial collapse — absence of lung markings remains key diagnostic clue.

Pneumothorax (tension physiology)

🚨 Severe pneumothorax with mediastinal displacement — treat as tension until proven otherwise.

Pneumothorax

🫁 Apical pleural line with peripheral hyperlucency — common exam stem.

Severe COPD

🚬 Expected CXR findings:
• Hyperinflated lungs with flattened diaphragms.
• Increased retrosternal air space.
• Narrow, vertical cardiac silhouette.
• Reduced peripheral vascular markings.

PCP Pneumonia

Left Pleural Effusion

🌊 Expected CXR findings:
• Homogeneous opacity at left lung base.
• Meniscus sign with blunting of costophrenic angle.
• Large effusions may cause mediastinal shift to the right.

Dilated Aorta (Marfan Syndrome)

🫀 Expected CXR findings:
• Widened mediastinum.
• Prominent aortic knuckle.
• Consider aortic root dilatation or dissection.
⚠️ CT angiography required if acute symptoms.

Cannonball Metastases

🎯 Expected CXR findings:
• Multiple, well-circumscribed round pulmonary nodules.
• Haematogenous spread.
• Classically from renal cell carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, sarcoma.

The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms.

Chest X Ray Collection

🔬Anatomy

Pericardial Effusion and Tamponade

Instant

Pulmonary Oedema

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax

Tension Pneumothorax

Pleural Effusion

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax (tension physiology)

Pneumothorax

Severe COPD

PCP Pneumonia

Left Pleural Effusion

Dilated Aorta (Marfan Syndrome)

Cannonball Metastases

Categories