Radiology | Vascular & Interventional Radiology Questions Radiologist

X-ray results?

What does eventration of left hemidiaphragm with associated left lung base subsegmental atelectasis mean?

Male | 61 years old
Complaint duration: Over a year
Medications: Singular Zyrtec advair disc Flonase nose spray
Conditions: Asthma

4 Answers

Means that the left half of the diaphragm is abnormally elevated or weakened, and there is partial collapse of a smaller area within the base of the left lung. To learn more, connect with me at drjeromepuryear.com. Thank you!
It means the left diaphragm is elevated, possibly due to trauma or nerve damage/paralysis, and the lung tissue adjacent to it is compressed and not taking in air normally.
Your diaphragm is the muscle at the bottom of your lung that pulls the lung open and allows you to breathe. Eventration means that it is higher than normal and usually higher than the opposite side. This can mean several things:

-Prior injury of the diaphragm that allowed abdominal contents to push up into the chest.
-Weakness of the left diaphragm possibly from nerve injury or stroke.
-Or, in this case, the atelectasis (collapsed or under-inflated lung can pull the diaphragm up).

Your level of concern should be based on symptoms and history. A comparison CT or X-ray from prior will tell you if this is new or concerning.
Absolutely nothing. It’s a congenital variant. In other words you were made that way.