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Deep Sulcus Sign

Article information

Trauma Image Proced. 2016;1(1):12-13
Publication date (electronic) : 2016 November 30
doi : https://doi.org/10.24184/tip.2016.1.1.12
Ho Hyun Kim, Chan Yong Park, Hyun Min Cho
Department of Trauma Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
Correspondence to: Hyun Min Cho, Department of Trauma Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, 179, Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Busan, Korea Tel: 82-51-240-7369, Fax: 82-51-240-7719, E-mail: csking1@daum.net
Received 2016 May 2; Revised 2016 July 3; Accepted 2016 July 11.

Abstract

The deep sulcus sign is a radiolucent lateral sulcus where the chest wall meets the diaphragm. In a supine film, it may be the only indication of a pneumothorax because air collects anteriorly and basally within the nondependent portions of the pleural space, as opposed to the apex when the patient is upright. The costophrenic angle is abnormally deepened when the pleural air collects laterally, producing the deep sulcus sign. We present a brief image of a trauma showing the deep sulcus sign indicating a pneumothorax.

Keywords: Pneumothorax; Diagnosis; X-Ray Film

CASE

A 56-year-old male pedestrian was brought to the emergency department after a high-speed road-traffic accident. He had transient hypotension and tachycardia, which improved after the administration of intravenous fluids. The physical examination revealed multiple orthopedic injuries in addition to trauma to the right chest, pelvis, and head. He underwent prompt intubation and sedation. Chest radiography with the patient in the supine position showed a deep sulcus sign (Fig. 1.), which was highly suggestive of a pneumothorax. Chest computed tomography confirmed a pneumothorax (Fig. 2.).

Fig. 1.

Chest anteroposterior view radiograph shows a right pneumothorax with deep sulcus sign.

Fig. 2.

Chest computed tomography revealed a pneumothorax.

DISCUSSION

In the supine position, air in the pleural space distributes anteriorly and basally at nondependent portions and causes deepening of the lateral costophrenic angle, producing the deep sulcus sign [1-3]. The deep sulcus sign is an important clue for diagnosing pneumothorax.

Notes

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

References

1. Jeng MJ, Lee YS, Tsao PC, Soong WJ. Neonatal air leak syndrome and the role of high-frequency ventilation in its prevention. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA 2012;75(11):551–9.
2. Sabbar S, Nilles EJ. Images in clinical medicine. Deep sulcus sign. The New England journal of medicine 2012;366(6):552.
3. Wang SH, Wei KY, Liu YC, Huang CH. The deep sulcus sign indicates free air in the abdomen. Internal and emergency medicine 2015;10(8):1033–4.

Article information Continued

Copyright © 2016 Korean Association for Research Procedures and Education on Trauma

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.

Chest anteroposterior view radiograph shows a right pneumothorax with deep sulcus sign.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.

Chest computed tomography revealed a pneumothorax.