Differences between right and left lateral chest radiographs

Differences between 150 normal right lateral chest teleroentgenographs and 150 left laterals (infants, children, and adults) were evaluated and determined to be greater than has been generally appreciated. On the left lateral view the left leaf is distinguished from the right leaf by the following generalizations: anteriorly the left leaf is lower; posteriorly it is higher as is its costrophrenic sulcus; it intersects the relatively flattened right leaf near the posterior heart border; the stomach bubble and/or colon are immediately subjacent; there is no segmental obliteration by the inferior vena cava as there often is with the right leaf; in adults the outline of the left leaf is often sharper. When both major fissures can be identified, the left almost always intersects its diaphragmatic leaf posterior to and more vertically than the right fissure.
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