Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis: a matter for concern.

A dilemma often faces the clinician who is asked to evaluate unilateral elevation of a hemidiaphragm that is identified on routine chest roentgenogram. The possibilities include neoplasm, infection, neuromuscular disease, trauma, or benign etiologies. We present an asymptomatic patient with this finding to provide some guidelines for the nature and extent of further investigation of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.