Case: Lines & tubes radiograph #11472258
Lines & tubes Beginner
Read this radiograph systematically before revealing the answer. What is the main abnormality?
Image: MrCarbohydrate via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized and converted to WebP
Tip: scroll or pinch to zoom, drag to pan, and try Invert.
Answer: Central venous catheter
What to look for in central venous catheter
- A thin catheter entering via a jugular, subclavian or arm vein and following the expected venous course.
- The tip should lie in the lower superior vena cava or at the cavoatrial junction.
- After insertion, always check for pneumothorax and for a tip in an unexpected vein or artery.
Description by the image author (may be in another language): Chest x-ray with central venous catheter visible in the right subclavian vein
Educational case. The diagnosis comes from the image's documented source; the "what to look for" list describes the condition in general and is not a report of this individual image.
