The Radiographic Appearances of the Chest in Persons of Advanced Age

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Abstract
The chest radiographs of 100 subjects aged 75 or over were studied. 1. There was no radiological evidence of emphysema in any instance, which suggests that the majority of patients with gross emphysema die of it before reaching 75. 2. Unlike other authors, we have been unable to recognise a senile lung pattern. 3. The only consistent changes were those in the bony skeleton. Decalcification of the ribs was generally present, and may have affected the interpretation of the appearance of the lung vessels. Spondylosis in the dorsal region was universal, and significant kyphosis was present in the majority. 4. The increase in the cardiothoracic ratio commonly found was due to shrinkage of the thoracic cage, and not to an increase in the heart size, so that this ratio is of no value in the assessment of cardiomegaly. 5. The lungs from six aged and five young normal subjects were studied. The aged lungs showed a mild degree of panacinar emphysema only without air trapping.

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