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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Chest X-ray Showed Blunting Right Costophrenic Angle With Pleural Effusion, Translucent Lung Fields. Is This Serious?

Hi,

This is for my father who is 68 years old. He recently got a chest x-ray done and here are the reports:

Blunting of right costophrenic angle noted ‎? ‎pleural effusion ‎/ ‎thickening‎.‎
Both the lung fields are equally translucent‎.‎
The left costo‎-‎phrenic angle is clear‎.‎
No hilar or mediastinal mass is seen‎.‎
Domes of diaphragm are normal in position and contour‎.‎
The cardiac outline is normal‎.‎
No obvious skeletal abnormality is seen‎.‎

Can you please tell me what this means? Should we be alarmed by pleural effuison? My father is otherwise healthy, active and a non-smoker.
Sat, 14 Dec 2013
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi,

Blunting of right costophrenic angle is usually suggestive of Pleural effusion. But it is not confirmed as it might be a thickening. Clinical examination should be done to confirm it. If it came out to be effusion, it is a matter of concern. This can be caused by many conditions like Infection, Hypoproteinemia, congestive heart failure, trauma, autoimmune disorder, pulmonary embolism or infarction.
It is necessary to do thoracocentesis and then pleural fluid analysis to find out the cause. Treatment will depend on cause of it and amount of fluid present. Better to consult a pulmonologist for needful.

Do consider a positive feedback as a credit to my work. Let me know if you have any further questions.
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Chest X-ray Showed Blunting Right Costophrenic Angle With Pleural Effusion, Translucent Lung Fields. Is This Serious?

Hi, Blunting of right costophrenic angle is usually suggestive of Pleural effusion. But it is not confirmed as it might be a thickening. Clinical examination should be done to confirm it. If it came out to be effusion, it is a matter of concern. This can be caused by many conditions like Infection, Hypoproteinemia, congestive heart failure, trauma, autoimmune disorder, pulmonary embolism or infarction. It is necessary to do thoracocentesis and then pleural fluid analysis to find out the cause. Treatment will depend on cause of it and amount of fluid present. Better to consult a pulmonologist for needful. Do consider a positive feedback as a credit to my work. Let me know if you have any further questions.