Chest radiograph appearances following the removal of pleural tubes.

Appearances on chest radiographs following the insertion and removal of 40 intrapleural tubes in 34 patients are described. Forty-three appearances were identified that were definitely related to tubes. The commonest of these were pleural densities and tube tracks, both of which usually resolved within seven days. Densities accounted for most of the appearances lasting longer than this. Less common appearances were skin holes due to skin puckering around the tube at its site of entry, and small air-fluid levels at the tube tip. A separate group of 14 intrapleural tubes is described: on their removal no chest radiograph appearance was attributable to the tubes. Two further cases are described in which a tube-related appearance was simulated: one by a metastasis, and the other by a healing rib fracture.