Imaging Case of the Week 598 Answer

The chest x-ray shows classic features of pneumonia in this child. There is consolidation involving the left lower & lingular lobes with air bronchogram sign and silhouetting of the left hemi diaphragm & left heart border. There is also an associated left pleural effusion as evidenced by blunting of the costophrenic angle. The oxygen tubing is visible indicating oxygen requirement and a sick child that is being treated.

Relevant negative is no visible radio-opaque foreign body. Prominent air bronchogram perhaps rules out a left main bronchus mucus plugging.

Child received standard intravenous antibiotics as per local policy and got better.