Tubes, wires, and rods seen in chest roentgenograms.

Different devices are seen on chest roentgenograms everyday. The gamut of metallic density shadows include sutures, surgical clips, staples, cardiac valve prosthesis, wires, and plates. Tubes and catheters are recognized when metallic wires or barium are incorporated in their walls. The number of devices is ever growing and with them complications grow. The radiologist may be the first to detect these complications. This article endeavors to review briefly a small number of these devices and their complications. References are provided for the avid reader.