total whiteout of hemithorax

Etiology

• massive pleural effusion (most common)
• mainstem bronchial obstruction (most common)
• extensive pneumonia

Pathology

• atelectasis with opacification of hemithorax

Differential diagnosis

• massive pleural effusion alledgely distingushed from mainstem bronchial obstruction on the basis of left vs right shift in mediastinal structures
  • arrow allegedly points to trachea

More general terms

• abnormal imaging