Right paraspinal line
Linea paraspinalis dextra
Definition
The right paraspinal line is the interface between the right lung and the paraspinous fat and soft tissues.
Normal radiographic appearance:
The right paraspinal line appears straight and runs from the 8th through the 12th thoracic vertebral levels.
The right paraspinal line has reportedly been seen on 23% of posteroanterior chest radiographs.
Abnormal radiographic appearance:
The paraspinal lines may be displaced laterally by prominent mediastinal fat or osteophytes. Abnormal contour or displacement may also suggest posterior mediastinal disease such as mediastinal hematoma, mass or extramedullary hematopoiesis.
References
Gibbs JM, Chandrasekhar CA, Ferguson EC, Oldham SA. Lines and stripes: where did they go?--From conventional radiography to CT. Radiographics. 2007 Jan-Feb;27(1):33-48. doi: 10.1148/rg.271065073. PMID: 17234997.
Marano R, Liguori C, Savino G, Merlino B, Natale L, Bonomo L. Cardiac silhouette findings and mediastinal lines and stripes: radiograph and CT scan correlation. Chest. 2011 May;139(5):1186-1196. doi: 10.1378/chest.10-0660. PMID: 21540217.
Cardiac silhouette findings and mediastinal lines and stripes: X-ray and computed tomography correlation R. Marano, G. Savino, C. Liguori, A. Meduri, L. Natale, L. Bonomo; Rome/IT CR-222 poster ECR 2009
Mediastinal lines, stripes and interfaces on PA chest radiograph with CT correlations - N. Bystrická, H. Poláková, J. Sykora; Bratislava/SKC-0442ECR 2013 10.1594/ecr2013/C-04
