RadioGraphics, Vol 13, 1013-1034, Copyright © 1993 by Radiological Society of North America
Manifestations of gastrointestinal disease on chest radiographs
TJ Cole and MA Turner
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0615.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract may result in radiographic changes
in the thorax. An abnormal chest radiographic finding is often the initial
clue to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease. This article presents
the commonly recognized and some unusual thoracic manifestations of
significant primary esophageal diseases including achalasia, diverticula,
carcinoma, duplication cysts, varices, esophageal perforation, and
postoperative changes. Intraabdominal gastrointestinal processes such as
pancreatitis or pseudocysts, gastric and colonic abnormalities,
pneumoperitoneum, liver abnormalities, intraabdominal abscesses, and
diaphragmatic hernias, which are frequently associated with intrathoracic
abnormalities, are also reviewed. Awareness of changes on the chest
radiograph produced by gastrointestinal disease allows prompt diagnosis and
facilitates the appropriate confirmatory diagnostic study, such as
esophagography or computed tomography.
