Mediastinal shift
Look For
- Deviation of the mediastinum toward one side of the chest.
Causes of Mediastinal Shift
- Mediastinal mass - tumour, lymphadenopathy
- Lung volume loss - lobectomy, pneumonectomy, significant atelectasis
- Lung volume expansion - tension pneumothorax, large pleural effusion
Interpretation
- Tracheal deviation - a sign of upper mediastinal shift
- Deviation of the cardiac shadow - a sign of lower mediastinal shift
Dextrocardia
Look For
- Inversion of the cardiac shadow, with the apex pointing toward the right side.
Detrocardia commonly coexists with situs invertus, where the intraabdominal organs are on the contralateral side.
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