Completely opaque hemithorax

Opaque hemithorax

Complete opacification of a hemithorax on chest X-ray is termed opaque hemithorax (OH) and is a common finding in emergency room patients. Attending physicians encountering an OH should be able to make an immediate decision regarding the most appropriate approach. The differential diagnosis of an OH is primarily based on the volume of the affected hemithorax, as determined by the position of th...

Opaque hemithorax in a young adult.

A 54-year-old man with right opaque hemithorax and worsening shortness of breath.

impaired/dull note was appreciated on the right side of the chest. The skin over the right hemithorax was warm and hard to touch. On abdominal examination, there was massive, palpable hepatomegaly which was tender. The remaining examination was unremarkable. Chest X-ray ( fig. 1 ) disclosed an almost complete opacification of the right hemithorax with the mediastinal silhouette being slightly d...

Opaque Hemithorax . Primary Tuberculous Pneumonia Presenting with Acute Respiratory Failure A Case Report & Review of the Subject

A young previously healthy male was hospitalized in intensive care unit due to progressively worsening dyspnea (mMRC grade 4), cough with scanty sputum and fever. He exhibited signs of acute respiratory failure including tachypnea (respiratory rate 40/m), cyanosis and oximetric oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 73 %. There was bronchial breathing on right hemithorax and coarse crackles on left side o...

A Left Hemithorax Mystery

On examination he was sweaty and looked ill. The blood pressure was 140/90 mm Hg, heart rate 95 beats/ min, axillary temperature 38 ° C and respiratory rate 25/ min. The left hemithorax was dull to percussion and there were decreased breath sounds. The abdomen was found to be soft but tender with normal bowel sounds. Routine full blood counts and serum chemistry were normal, except for a raised...