High Kilovoltage Oblique Roentgenography of the Chest: Its Advantage in Differential Diagnosis in Diseases of the Lung and the Pleura

¹ Department of Radiology, Cincinnati General Hospital

The lobar and segmental boundaries of the lung converge towards the hili, like the spokes of a wheel; similarly all blood vessels and bronchi converge towards the hili, which are located in the posterolateral aspect of the heart. The plane of the wheel is neither sagittal nor coronal; it is oblique. High kilovoltage oblique roentgenogram of the chest enables us to look at the hili through the shadow of the heart. Since the segments of the lungs resemble pyramids with their apex always at the hilus, lobar and segmental pathology, including atelectasis, may be seen as a triangular shadow, with its apex at the hilus.

This method, viz. high kilovoltage oblique roentgenography of the chest, does replace any of the conventional methods. It is a useful adjunct in the examination of the chest. As with any method, it has its advantages and limitations.