Each month, Dr. Maria Flynn issues a Radiology Challenge, presenting images from one of a variety of imaging modalities and a case report. Can you diagnose the condition? Follow the link to find out whether your answer was correct, what was really wrong with the patient, and how the patient was treated. Then, come back next month to test your radiographic reading skills on a new case!

Maria Flynn, MD GU Imaging Chief Radiology Intern Program Director Department of Radiology E.L. O'Neil, MD Radiology Resident Department of Radiology Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Portsmouth, VA

Dr. Maria Flynn is Chief of Genitourinary Imaging and Radiology Intern Program Director at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, as well as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy Medical Corps. She received her medical degree from Tulane Medical School in 1994 and completed her radiology residency at the National Capital Consortium in 2003. She is certified by the American Board of Radiology and has been appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine.

An otherwise healthy 17-year-old boy presented to the emergency department reporting difficulty and pain with swallowing. The day before the onset of symptoms, he was knocked to the ground while playing basketball and hyperextended his neck. Soft tissue neck films were obtained (Figure 1). Plain radiography findings prompted further evaluation with computed tomography (CT) scanning (Figure 2). A follow-up esophagram was negative for contrast leak or any other abnormality. Subsequent laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy revealed no airway injury.

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