Abstract
As a part of the normal aging process, many changes occur in the lungs, mediastinum, pleura, and thoracic skeleton. Age-related mild pulmonary fibrosis, air trapping, and apical scarring can be seen in the lungs. Tortuous and atherosclerotic vessels and mediastinal lipomatosis are not infrequently seen in elderly patients. With increasing age, diaphragmatic hernia and eventration may become more prominent. Additionally, degenerative changes of the osseous structures can sometimes mimic pulmonary nodules. Familiarity with the imaging appearance of these changes is important to help avoid mistaking these changes as pathologic processes.
Keywords
- Subpleural reticulation
- Tracheal calcification
- Apical cap
- Airtrapping (f)
- Focal fibrosis (f)
- Osteophyte (f)
- Intraparenchymal lymph node (f)
- Lung nodule (f)
- Thymus (f)
- Mediastinal lipomatosis (f)
- Unfolded aorta (f)
- Atherosclerosis (f)
- Aberrant right subclavian artery (f)
- Kommerell diverticulum (f)
- Eventration (f)
- Diaphragmatic hernia (f)
- Costal cartilage calcification (f)
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Wu, C.C., Shepard, JA.O. (2011). Imaging Features of the Normal Aging Chest. In: Katlic, M. (eds) Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Elderly. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0892-6_12
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