The height of the diaphragm domes in pathologies of abdominal organs of the digestive apparatus.

The present study reports on diaphragmatic changes observed in 226 patients with diseases of abdominal organs of the digestive system. The group consisted of 121 males (53.5%) and 105 females (46.5%) (mean age: 44.1 +/- 4.3 years; range 15-83 years). The parameter of reference for comparisons between normal and pathological conditions was the normal average difference in height between the hemidiaphragms, which was obtained from 220 postero-anterior chest radiographs. These radiographs were obtained from 99 males (49.5%) and 101 females (50.5%) (mean age; 41.1 +/- 5.6 years; range: 15-78 years) who did not present any symptoms compatible with diseases of the digestive system. Several diseases which affect different abdominal organs were found to cause various differences in height between the left and right hemidiaphragms. The mechanism and clinical applications of the alterations observed are discussed.