Can soot seen in the hilum indicate lymphadenopathy?

Question

Hello doctor,

Please tell me if that soot in both the hilum means lymphadenopathy. What does the black line between the heart and the aorta indicate? What does an unclear borderline on the top of the heart means? What does an unclear lower right corner edge mean? What do the black spots, one on each side of the vertebra at the top of the image, mean?

Please, can you see anything other than what was asked (gastric bubble, any rib injury, anything special in the heart, aorta, pleura, lymph nodes)? I have marked the concerned areas in the images.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

The two tick marks at the top are normal in the bilateral lung apices. On the right, there is a tick over the scapula, which is normal. There are pulmonary vessels in bilateral hilar areas. There is no obvious lymphadenopathy. There are ticks on the lateral border of the descending thoracic aorta on the left side, which is normal. There are ticks on the right dome of the diaphragm and the right costophrenic angle area, and they are normal. There is a tick on the gastric bubble under the left dome of the diaphragm, and it is normal. The lung markings are mildly prominent in the bilateral lungs.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

A chest X-ray is not showing any big hilar lymph nodes, and smaller lymph nodes cannot be visualized on X-ray images.

There are multiple shadows in the area below the aorta, like the aortic arch, ribs, left main bronchus, and the hilar structures. Depending on the number of structures the X-ray travels through, you will get a dark or light area. The heart border can be unclear due to technical problems or breath holding. The gastric bubble is found when the stomach is filled with air. It does not mean splenomegaly.

Mildly prominent lung markings can be normal in the middle-aged and elderly. It can be visualized in people with mild colds and coughs and is not a serious concern.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.