"Unilateral hypertransradiancy is the correct term for the chest radiograph appearance of increased blackness affecting one lung. Hyperlucency is a commonly used alternative but is inaccurate; the chest is not penetrated by light!"
"C: contralateral lung increased density (e.g. supine pleural effusion)"
"R: rotation"
"A: air (pneumothorax)"
"W: wall (chest wall mass, mastectomy, polio, Poland syndrome, surgical removal of the pectoralis major muscle)"
"L: lungs (airway obstruction, emphysema, Swyer-James syndrome, unilateral large bullae, large pulmonary embolus)"
"S: scoliosis"
"S: Swyer-James syndrome"
"A: agenesis (pulmonary)"
"F: fibrosis (mediastinal)"
"E: effusion (pleural effusion on the contralateral side)"
"P: pneumonectomy/pneumothorax"
"O: obstruction (airway)"
"E: embolus (pulmonary)"
"M: mucous plug"
"A: air (pneumothorax), artery (pulmonary aplasia or hypoplasia)"
"C: chest wall (mastectomy, polio, Poland syndrome)"
"R: rotation"
"O: obstructive causes (airway obstruction, foreign body, unilateral emphysema, large embolus)"
"S: scoliosis"
"S: surrounding (increased density in contralateral lung, e.g. pleural effusion in the opposite lung in a recumbent patient)"
"S: Swyer-James syndrome"
"Mnemonics for a unilateral hypertransradiant hemithorax include:"
"SAFE POEM"
"SAFE POEM"
"ACROSSS"
"SAFE POEM"
"SAFE POEM"
"ACROSSS"
"R: rotation"
"A: air (pneumothorax)"
"S: scoliosis"
"A: agenesis (pulmonary)"
"F: fibrosis (mediastinal)"
"E: effusion (pleural effusion on the contralateral side)"
"P: pneumonectomy/pneumothorax"
"O: obstruction (airway)"
"E: embolus (pulmonary)"
"A: air (pneumothorax), artery (pulmonary aplasia or hypoplasia)"
"R: rotation"
"O: obstructive causes (airway obstruction, foreign body, unilateral emphysema, large embolus)"
"S: scoliosis"
"S: surrounding (increased density in contralateral lung, e.g. pleural effusion in the opposite lung in a recumbent patient)"
Expected headings
"Mnemonics"
"CRAWLS"
"SAFE POEM"
"ACROSSS"
"Unilateral hypertransradiancy is the correct term for the chest radiograph appearance of increased blackness affecting one lung. Hyperlucency is a commonly used alternative but is inaccurate; the chest is not penetrated by light!"
"C: contralateral lung increased density (e.g. supine pleural effusion)"