Day: February 29, 2020

School ager who presents with back pain after having a central venous catheter replaced 5 months ago

CXR and CT of embolized central venous catheter fragment
CXR AP shows the tip of the new catheter to be in appropriate location in the superior vena cava. There is a catheter fragment in the right lower lobe along with a large right pleural effusion. Axial CT with contrast of the chest shows the embolized catheter fragment in the periphery of the right lower lobe and to have eroded into the right pleural space, with an associated pleural effusion and atelectasis.

The diagnosis was an embolized catheter fragment after catheter removal.