Extrathoracic Musculature Mimicking Pleural Lesions

Abstract

The thoracic cage musculature can project over the lung fields in such a way as to mimic pleural-based densities on the posteroanterior chest radiograph. The characteristics of these muscular shadows and their differentiation from actual pleural lesions are described. This differentiation is of utmost importance in patients with suspected primary or metastatic malignancy.