What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Elevated Right Hemidiaphragm?

Posted on Sat, 14 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 14 Mar 2015 Answered on

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I went to er the other day for shortness of breath and they did all the test and they said they came back ok but on the report it said I had a Elevated right hemidiaphragm whats that and should I look into it further
blood tests ekg x-ray all clear except for what I mentioned before

Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Elevated right hemidiaphragm & Shortness of breath

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
Shortness of breath-the possibilities are:
P E (Pulmonary embolism) : A normal chest X-ray in acutely breathless and hypoxemic patients increases the likelihood of P E. Features-may be raised diaphragm, which moves poorly on inspiration.
Other causes of Raised RT dome of the diaphragm:
1.     Subpulmonic effusion
2.     Eventration of diaphragm
3.     Paralysis of dome of diaphragm (phrenic nerve palsy)
4.     Subphrenic abscess /hepatic SOL(space occupying lesions).
You need clinical evaluation and further investigation as dictated .

Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T