CTICasesAspirated Foreign Body (Almond) Causing Left Lung Atelectasis
Imaging findings
Chest radiograph shows an opaque left hemithorax, and CT demonstrates 99% airless, atelectatic left lung. The left main bronchus tails off into nothing, with no clear obstructing mass or extrinsic compression visible on CT. Bronchoscopy identified an aspirated foreign body, specifically an almond, which had broken into pieces and caused the airway obstruction and atelectasis.
Key takeaways
An opaque hemithorax can be caused by complete lung atelectasis due to foreign body aspiration, even without a visible obstructing lesion on CT. Bronchoscopy is essential for diagnosis and removal. Aspirated nuts are common foreign bodies, and they can fragment, making removal challenging.
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