What Is the Earliest Sign of a Left-Sided Pleural Effusion

question 4

Multiple Choice

What is the earliest sign of a left-sided pleural effusion on an upright chest radiograph?

• A)an increased distance between the inferior margin of the left lung and the stomach gas bubble
• B)inability to see small pulmonary blood vessels over the left lower lung
• C)a widened mediastinum
• D)elevation of the right hemidiaphragm

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Definitions:

Lactate

A byproduct of anaerobic metabolism in tissues, often associated with strenuous exercise or metabolic dysregulation.

NADH

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is the reduced form of NAD+ and plays a crucial role in energy metabolism, acting as an electron carrier in oxidative phosphorylation.

Citric Acid Cycle

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that stores and transfers energy within cells, fueling various cellular processes.