What Does "Elevated Right Dome Of Diaphragm-significance" Mean?

Posted on Mon, 17 Mar 2014

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 Answered on

Thu, 3 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Dear Doctor, Recently i had mild cough for 4 days .I took some cough syrup and it subsided on 4 th day. On that day i just gone for a chest pa view, to see whether all is well with my lungs.The radiology report is as under: Patient mildly rotated to left side. Heart and aorta are normal Prominent bronchovascular markings seen in bilateral lung fields -likely age related Elevated right dome of diaphragm seen-?significance (No prev x ray) Both hila , costophrenic angles and left dome of diaphhragm are normal. Bomy cage is normal. Impression: Elevated right dome of diaphragm-significance? Now i am a totally vegetarian, non smoker and teetotaller. I walk for 4km every day for the past 30 years. I never had fatigue,loss of strength, rundown condition or weakness at any time . I have never had fever in the last 8 years. Never had cough in the past 4 years. Food intake.: Morning 3 idlys . at 1pm little rice and vegetables and rasam.I eat very little. always half full stomach.again at 8 pm 2 pulkas or 2 chapatis and a glass of buttermilk.thats all. Since i had minneres disease in my left ear and experienced vertigo i for the past 2 years sleeping on the opposite side without turning to the left side. This is just for your info. Now i read that this elevated diaphragm is very rare. Since i have no discomfort or what soever can i simply ignore this?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer: You can ignore the finding. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for writing to HCM You can ignore the finding about elevated right dome of diaphragm. Since you don't have any symptoms you can ignore it. Elevated right dome of diaphragm may be due to pathology in right lung,diaphragmatic causes or causes below the diaphragm. In supra diaphragmatic causes related to right lung pathology may be due to decreased lung volume(atelectasis),collapse lobectomy,pneumonectomy etc.Since you don't have relevant history,it is excluded. Diagrammatic causes may be due to eventration of diaphragm which is rare. Causes below the diaphragm may be due to liver pathology,fat deposition below diaphragm etc. You can have Ultrasound of abdomen,it can exclude liver causes. Other chest X-ray findings are normal. It is good that you are so active in daily life.you should continue it. Get well soon. Hope I have answered your question. Further queries are most welcome. Take Care Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (14 hours later)

Dear Doctor, I thank you very much for your expert advise. With your advise you have relieved me from tension. I would like to ask whether i should go for LFT occassionally and KFT so that i can know the state of these two organs health from time to time, since I am taking some medicines since 30 years like stamlobeta (1996),earlier Aten 50 since (1980) Ismo 10 mg (1996) Atorvostatin 5mg (2006) Glycomet (2011) 250 mg and ASA 50 mg (1980).Kindly advise sincerely XXXX

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: Yes,you need screening once in a year. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for writing back Yes,you need routine screening at least once in a year.This is necessary due to your age. Routine investigations include routine hemogram,Random blood sugar(RBS),Liver function test(LFT),Renal function test(RFT),Lipid profile,Urine RE/ME,ECG in all leads. You also need periodic clinical examination by a physician. You should take medicines regularly. Hope I have answered your question. Further queries are most welcome. Take Care Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar