Final answer:
A chest x-ray (CXR) in patients with suspected SVC syndrome may show a normal mediastinum, and it does not always show changes specifically associated with the syndrome such as an enlarged heart, kidney stones, or confirmation of lung cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which feature may be seen on a chest x-ray (CXR) in patients with suspected superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. The correct answer is a) May show a normal mediastinum. SVC syndrome is a condition in which the SVC is obstructed, leading to an array of symptoms; however, its presence does not always translate to visible changes in the mediastinum on a CXR. An enlarged heart, kidney stones, or confirmation of lung cancer are not specifically associated with SVC syndrome in the context of a CXR finding.
Patients with SVC syndrome could have various other findings incidentally noted on CXR, such as artificial heart valves, a pacemaker, and the wires used to close the sternum, as seen in the shadow X-ray images provided. In the case of pneumonia, a CXR may show lung infiltrates or consolidations present as opaque patches, which is another common finding, but it is not related to SVC syndrome.