Page Contents
OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to covering the important radiological finding of a deep sulcus sign.
WHAT IS IT?
A deep sulcus sign refers to a finding on chest X-ray where the costophrenic angle is deepened most often due to the presence of air in the pleural space.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS FINDING
When seeing a deep sulcus sign, it is important to keep in mind the following possible causes of this finding:
- Pneumothorax: most often this sign will be the result of a pneumothorax. It may sometimes be the only sign present (especially on a supine film).
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): this condition may sometimes exhibited this sign because of hyperaration of the lungs.
KEY FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHARACTERIZING THE FINDING
When seeing a deep sulcus sign, there are a few important radiological features one should look at to try and characterize the finding. These features can help navigate the differential diagnosis above.
Page Updated: 03.01.2017