Case: Lines & tubes radiograph #65797243
Lines & tubes Intermediate
Read this radiograph systematically before revealing the answer. What is the main abnormality?
Tip: scroll or pinch to zoom, drag to pan, and try Invert.
Answer: Implanted venous access port (port-a-cath)
What to look for in implanted venous access port (port-a-cath)
- A dense reservoir in the subcutaneous tissue of the upper chest wall.
- A catheter runs from the reservoir into a central vein, with its tip ideally near the cavoatrial junction.
- Look for catheter fracture, disconnection or migration (pinch-off between clavicle and first rib).
Description by the image author (may be in another language): Chest X-ray of a 66 year old man who received a port for chemotherapy for a pancreatic cancer . It shows that the tip of the port is placed in the azygos vein . As of upload date, it has remained functional for therapy for 9 months, although there have been occasional problems aspirating from it.
Educational case. The diagnosis comes from the image's documented source; the "what to look for" list describes the condition in general and is not a report of this individual image.
