Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Comet tail sign
Introduction
Overview
Overview
- The comet tail sign is a finding that can be seen on computed tomographic scans of the chest.
- It consists of a curvilinear opacity that extends from a subpleural “mass” toward the ipsilateral hilum.
- The comet tail sign is produced by the distortion of vessels and bronchi that lead to an adjacent area of round atelectasis, which is the mass. The bronchovascular bundles appear to be pulled into the mass and resemble a comet tail.
Examples
Examples
Images shown in this section are courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted.
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CT: Round atelectasis -
CT: Round atelectasis -
CT: Round atelectasis -
CT: Round atelectasis
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]