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Crossing the barrier: when the diaphragm is not a limit
Leonardo Lidid1, Juan Valenzuela, Carlos Villarroel
1Department of Radiology, Universidad de Chile, Campus Occidente, Facultad de medicine, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Avenida Portales 3239, Santiago, Chile. leolidid@gmail.com
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
|December 21, 2012
Summary
Transphrenic disease spread occurs via anatomic pathways. The diaphragm is a key but incomplete barrier between the abdomen and thorax, allowing for disease migration.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Pathology
- Surgical anatomy
Background:
- The diaphragm separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
- Understanding disease spread across this barrier is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the anatomical routes of transphrenic disease dissemination.
- To highlight the diaphragm's role as a barrier to disease migration.
Main Methods:
- Review of anatomical literature.
- Analysis of pathological case studies involving transphrenic spread.
Main Results:
- Detailed description of specific anatomical pathways facilitating disease spread.
- Identification of structures that permit or impede transphrenic migration.
Conclusions:
- The abdomen and thorax are a continuous space.
- The diaphragm, while significant, is not an absolute barrier to disease movement.
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