What causes blunting of Costophrenic angles?

Blunting of a costophrenic angle is the classic sign for pleural effusion. It is important to note that minor blunting may be caused by scarring or chronic atelectasis. Effusions first become apparent on lateral upright radiographs with blunting of the posterior costophrenic angle.

Where is the Hemidiaphragm located?

Each hemidiaphragm should appear as a smooth, domed contour. The right hemidiaphragm is usually a little higher than the left. The liver is located immediately inferior to the right hemidiaphragm. The stomach and spleen are located immediately inferior to the left hemidiaphragm.

What does blunting of the right and left Costophrenic angles mean?

Blunting of the costophrenic angle (also known as blunting of the costophrenic sulcus) is a chest radiograph sign usually indicative of a small pleural effusion. It may be seen on either frontal or lateral erect projections.

What does loss of costophrenic angle means?

Blunting of the costophrenic angles is usually caused by a pleural effusion, as already discussed. Other causes of costophrenic angle blunting include lung disease in the region of the costophrenic angle, and lung hyperexpansion.

What causes Hemidiaphragm?

Injury to the phrenic nerve or hemidiaphragm is a direct cause of elevated hemidiaphragm. Indirect causes of elevated hemidiaphragm include a traumatic injury, neurologic disease, or cancerous processes within the thoracic and abdominal cavity.

What is the significance of costophrenic angle?

On a frontal chest X-ray the costophrenic angles should form acute angles which are sharp to a point. Costophrenic “blunting” is often due to the presence of a pleural effusion, but it can also be related to other pleural disease or lung disease. Lung hyperexpansion can also lead to blunting of the costophrenic angles.

What does Costophrenic mean in medical terms?

Medical Definition of costophrenic : of or relating to the ribs and the diaphragm.

Why is the right hemidiaphragm higher than the left?

However, they received little attention from the medical community. Over the past three decades, the classic teaching has been that the diaphragm is elevated in the right side because the liver is in the right side.

How is the right hemidiaphragm visualized in a chest radiograph?

The right hemidiaphragm is visualized in its entirety as there is no right lower lobe airspace disease. The left lateral chest radiograph facilitates identification of the right ribs (and the normal ipsilateral right hemidiaphragm) by virtue of their magnification, as they are farthest from the image receptor.

How are costophrenic angles assessed on a chest X ray?

Assessing the costophrenic angles. On a frontal chest X-ray the costophrenic angles should form acute angles which are sharp to a point. Often the term costophrenic “blunting” is used to refer to the presence of a pleural effusion.

Why are the costophrenic angles of the lungs blunt?

Both costophrenic angles are blunt due to lung hyper-expansion The hemidiaphragms are flattened indicating hyperexpansion The lung markings are distorted bilaterally

What is the difference between left and right costophrenic angles?

Right costophrenic angle blunting. The left costophrenic angle is sharply defined (normal) The right costophrenic angle is blunt (abnormal) There is volume loss in the right hemithorax with corresponding shift of the mediastinum and trachea to the right (arrows)