Westcott J L, Cole S
Radiology. 1985 Apr;155(1):1-9. doi: 10.1148/radiology.155.1.3975385.
Postmortem examination was performed in 15 patients who had plate atelectasis (PA) on their last antemortem radiograph. In 10 patients, corresponding abnormalities were found in the lungs. In all 10, there was peripheral subpleural linear collapse combined with invagination of the overlying pleura; prominent interlobular septa were observed within or bordering the linear atelectasis in nine. The atelectasis and the invaginated pleura both contributed to the linear radiographic density. The bronchi supplying the areas of PA showed no obstruction nor rearrangement. Despite a frequent association with pulmonary embolism (6/10), there was no evidence that PA directly represented thrombosed vessels or infarcts. The findings suggest that PA represents one (radiographically visible) form of peripheral atelectasis. In persisting low-volume states, the dependent subpleural lung appears to buckle and fold in. The frequent association of PA with congenital pleural clefts, indentations, scars, and incomplete fissures suggests that this process may preferentially occur at sites of pre-existing pleural invagination. PA frequently indicates more widespread peripheral atelectasis than is radiologically apparent; it also may indicate the presence of some other (more serious) abnormality in the chest or abdomen.
对15例生前最后一次X线片显示有盘状肺不张（PA）的患者进行了尸检。10例患者的肺部发现了相应异常。在所有10例中，均有周边胸膜下线性肺萎陷并伴有上覆胸膜内陷；9例在线性肺不张内或其边界处观察到明显的小叶间隔。肺不张和内陷的胸膜均导致了线性放射密度。供应PA区域的支气管未显示阻塞或重排。尽管PA常与肺栓塞相关（6/10），但没有证据表明PA直接代表血栓形成的血管或梗死灶。这些发现提示PA代表周边肺不张的一种（放射学可见）形式。在持续的低容量状态下，依赖的胸膜下肺似乎会发生卷曲和折叠。PA与先天性胸膜裂、压痕、瘢痕和不完全裂的频繁关联提示该过程可能优先发生于先前存在胸膜内陷的部位。PA常常提示周边肺不张比放射学上明显的范围更广；它也可能提示胸部或腹部存在其他（更严重的）异常。
