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Imaging of Nonneoplastic Chest Wall Pathologies

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Diagnostic Imaging for Thoracic Surgery

Abstract

The chest wall is commonly affected by nonneoplastic conditions including traumatic, infectious, arthritic, metabolic, and congenital lesions. Imaging plays a critical role in differentiating among these entities and other neoplastic mimics. Multimodality imaging evaluation including radiography, ultrasound (US), computerized tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows comprehensive evaluation of chest wall lesions and other ancillary findings. The radiologist plays an important role and is often be the first to identify abnormalities and alert clinicians and surgeons of both surgical and nonsurgical conditions. Thoracic surgeons and radiologists should work jointly in arriving at the imaging diagnosis and collaborate in the preoperative evaluation of patients who suffer from these conditions.

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Abbreviations

CT:

Computed tomography

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

HU:

Hounsfield unit

IV:

Intravenous

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

SC:

Sternoclavicular

TB:

Tuberculosis

US:

Ultrasound

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Stowell, J., Martínez-Jiménez, S. (2018). Imaging of Nonneoplastic Chest Wall Pathologies. In: Anzidei, M., Anile, M. (eds) Diagnostic Imaging for Thoracic Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89893-3_19

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