CTICasesApical Visceral Pleural Plaque and Scarring
Imaging findings
CT of a trauma patient with a pneumothorax shows apical pleural thickening and calcification that has separated from the chest wall, demonstrating that the calcified plaque is located on the visceral pleura rather than the parietal pleura, with associated underlying physical lung scarring.
Key takeaways
Apical cap scarring and visceral pleural calcification are common, benign incidental findings in elderly patients. A pneumothorax can uniquely demonstrate that these plaques reside on the visceral pleura and are not adherent to the chest wall. They are hypothesized to be secondary to chronic apical ischemia or mechanical stress (alveolar tension).
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Atrial-Esophageal FistulaIatrogenic
- Aortic Intramural Hematoma from Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump InjuryIatrogenic
- Fabry DiseaseMetabolic
- Bronchogenic CystCongenital
- Cytokine Release Syndrome and Pulmonary Toxicity post CAR-T Cell TherapyIatrogenic
- Bochdalek HerniaCongenital
- Left Ventricular HemangiomaNeoplastic
- Pulmonary Sarcoidosis (Fairy Ring Sign)Autoimmune
See all cases from May 13, 2021 →