Migrating Lobar Atelectasis of the Right Lung: Radiologic Findings in Six Patients

OBJECTIVE: To describe the radiologic findings of migrating lobar atelectasis of the right lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographs (n = 6) and CT scans (n = 5) of six patients with migrating lobar atelectasis of the right lung were analyzed retrospectively. The underlying diseases associated with lobar atelectasis were bron-chogenic carcinoma (n = 4), bronchial tuberculosis (n = 1), and tracheobronchial amyloidosis (n = 1). RESULTS: Atelectasis involved the right upper lobe (RUL) (n = 3) and both the RUL and right middle lobe (RML) (n = 3). On supine anteroposterior radiographs (n = 5) and on an erect posteroanterior radiograph (n = 1), the atelectatic lobe(s) occupied the right upper lung zone, with a wedge shape abutting onto the right mediastinal border. On erect posteroanterior radiographs (n = 6), the heavy atelectatic lobe(s) migrated downward, forming a perior infrahilar area of increased opacity and obscuring the right cardiac margin. Erect lateral radi-ographs (n = 4) showed inferior shift of the anterosuperiorly located atelectatic lobe(s) to the anteroinferior portion of the hemithorax. CONCLUSION: Atelectatic lobe(s) can move within the hemithorax according to changes in a patient's position. This process involves the RUL or both the RUL and RML.

The Role of Whole Body Bone Scan in Bronchogenic Carcinoma

One hundred and sixty patients having bronchogenic carcinoma were evaluated for bone metastasis by means of 99mTc-monodiphosphate bone scanning, correlative radiographic bone survey and their clinical findings. In all patients, diagnosis was histologically proved. Bone scan demonstrated the possible evidence of bone metastasis in 75 patients (46.9%) and radiography, in 29 patients (18.1%). False negative was noted in 1 patient-Bone scan correlated with radiography in 37.3%, and with accompanying bone pain in 52% of the patients. But there was no correlation with the level of serum calcium, inorganic phos- phorus and alkaline phosphatase. In connection with their clinical stages before scanning, bone scans were positive in 33.3% of clinical stage I, 10.8% of clinica1 stage II and 54.1% of clinical stage III. Our Study suggests that bone scanning with 99m-monodiphosphate detected early bone metastasis in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma before their lesions became evident clinically or radiographically, and also important to determine operability.