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What Could Minimally Displaced Left Anterolateral Fifth Rib Fracture Mentioned In An Old Scan But Not A Recent One Mean?

Posted on Thu, 14 Mar 2024

Question: I'm seeking clarification on radiology reports. On a recent report dated 4/30/208 it states that there is "elevated metabolic activity noted in the left anterolateral fifth rib...... in association with an adjacent fracture ...SUV 3.9. Later, it notes, "minimally displaced left anterolateral fifth rib fracture with adjacent very subtle sclerosis,...the fracture is retrospectively noted on the study dated 1/23/2018. My question is, I have the report dated 1/23/2018 and I don't see reference to a left sided fracture on that report , only a right sided fracture. What do you take from these two reports.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Unlikely that there is a mistake in interpretation, pls review both scans

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.

There is mention of anterolateral left 5th ribs fracture in one report and a posterior right 9th rib fracture in the other report.

The area of the ribs of concern for fracture in the two reports are completely different because the anterolateral area and the posterior area of a rib are not the same.

Both the above scans need to be reviewed and re confirmed by your doctors again because it is unlikely for an area in the anterolateral left 5th ribs be mistaken as posterior right 9th rib.

Please do write back with more questions and we can discuss more in detail.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj