Right paratracheal stripe
Linea paratrachealis dextra
Definition
The right paratracheal stripe is formed by the tracheal wall, mediastinal connective tissue and paratracheal pleura. Air within the trachea and the aerated right upper lobe outline the intervening soft tissues.
Normal radiographic appearance:
The right paratracheal stripe begins at the level of the clavicles and extends inferiorly, projecting through the superior vena cava, to the right tracheobronchial angle at the level of azygos arch This stripe has a maximum normal thickness of 4mm and it should be uniform in width.
The right paratracheal strip has reportedly been seen on 83-97% of posteroanterior chest radiographs.
Abnormal radiographic appearance:
An abnormal contour, widening or obliteration of this stripe may be due to abnormality of any of its components, from the tracheal mucosa to the pleural space, such as tracheal carcinoma, paratracheal masses (most commonly lymphadenopathy) and pleural effusion or thickening.
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
