Disappearing ring in chest cavity

Le résumé fourni par la source

A case of postoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with ring shadow in the chest cavity is described; the ring disappeared when the chest tube was pulled out and the chest radiograph was repeated. We describe the finding of single-ring opacity in the left pleural cavity of a postoperative CABG patient when his chest radiograph (CXR) was taken. The ring opacity was seen close to the chest tube in the CXR. There was no connection between the chest tube and the ring opacity, as shown in Figure 1. This was the day the wedding ring of one of the nursing staff was lost.Figure 1: Single-ring opacity seen close to the chest tubeWe decided to pull out the chest tube a little before performing a re-exploration. A CXR was repeated after pulling out the tube and the ring opacity disappeared, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the single-ring opacity turned out to be the end on view of the chest tube.Figure 2: Disappeared ring opacity after the chest tube was pulled outThe differential diagnoses of single-ring opacity on CXR are hydatid cyst (thin wall), abscess (thick wall, air fluid level) and tuberculous cavity (thick wall). Multiple-ring shadows are seen in bronchiectasis (bilateral, basal). [1] Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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