Radiographic differentiation between cystic fibrosis and asthma presenting in teenagers and young adults can be difficult. Many patients with a late presentation of cystic fibrosis display minimal changes on a chest radiograph. However, a large majority (90%) of cystic fibrosis patients with an essentially normal PA chest radiograph will have a distinctly outlined orifice of right upper lobe bronchus on a lateral chest film as opposed to a small number of asthmatics (25%) or normal patients (18%). This observation correlates well with the pathologic finding that the initial pulmonary involvement in cystic fibrosis is typically in the right upper lobe in adolescents. Teenage or young adult patients presenting with a history of repeated respiratory infections, asthma-like symptoms and a distinctly visible right upper lobe bronchus on a lateral chest film should be sweat-tested to exclude cystic fibrosis.

Computed tomography and arterial portography were combined in 12 patients for studies of the anatomy and hemodynamics of the portal venous system. This technique was found to be more sensitive than conventional venous-phase angiograms of the superior mesenteric and splenic arteries for evaluation of the anatomy of the portal venous system and extent of thrombosis in patients with cavernous transformation and also facilitated recognition of subtle evidence of hepatofugal flow and portosystemic shunts. CT portography can be employed when conventional angiograms fail to show the portal vein adequately.

Tc-99m sulfur colloid has been shown to be accurate in the detection of intrapulmonary bleeding (1,2). The present example demonstrates the usefulness of Tc-99m sulfur colloid in identifying an unusual manifestation of intrathoracic hemorrhage.