Is it a black hole?

May 15, 2006 5:52 AM

I would like to get an educated guess about what this black spot is in some old x-rays.

This is the first x-ray whole. Detail.

This is the x-ray taken later. Detail.

I realize that black spots indicate a void or something, so what is likely missing?

Sorry for the imageshack links. I don't have any hosting

posted by the giant pill to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

It's probably a bronchus seen end on... not something to worry about.
posted by mert at 6:56 AM on May 15, 2006

Its either a vessel or airway seen anterior to posterior or posterior to anterior.
Most likely an airway lumen because of its size/caliber.
er0c
posted by erd0c at 6:59 AM on May 15, 2006

mert is correct imo- the black spot is air, the surrounding penumbra of whitish haze is tissue suggesting an end-on bronchus.
posted by docpops at 7:55 AM on May 15, 2006

Another vote for the interior of a small bronchial passage.

There's nothing "missing" - a lot of the lung is air space, that's just how it's put together.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:30 AM on May 15, 2006

yup bronchus. Get a lateral and compare it to the PA.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 10:59 AM on May 15, 2006

Sixthed.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 12:59 PM on May 15, 2006

Alien tracking device.
posted by porpoise at 2:36 PM on May 15, 2006

what porpoise said. just blanked out because the government doesn't want you to know. (sorry for the lame joke)
posted by ArchEnemy at 10:50 PM on May 15, 2006