Radiographic appearance of the chest after pleural space reduction procedures: construction of a pleural tent and phrenoplasty.

Construction of a pleural tent and phrenoplasty are surgical procedures performed to reduce intrapleural dead space after partial lung resection. Both alter the radiographic appearance of the chest and may cause erroneous diagnosis including pneumothorax, subphrenic disease, subpulmonic effusion, diagphragmatic hernia, or diaphragmatic eventration. Radiologists should be aware of the potentially misleading appearance that these surgical procedures may present.