Final answer:
The correct Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for the drainage of pleural effusion using a pigtail catheter with guidance is A. 32557. Chest X-rays in pneumonia display white patches due to consolidation or fluid, and may show other medical devices like artificial heart valves.
Step-by-step explanation:
A 50-year-old male with a moderate-sized right pleural effusion estimated at 800 cc on a CT scan underwent a procedure where a needle was used to puncture through the chest and place a guidewire in the pleural cavity under ultrasound guidance. Following this, a pigtail catheter was inserted along the guidewire and secured with stitches, allowing for drainage of the accumulated fluid. The correct CPT® code for this procedure is A. 32557, which describes thoracentesis with insertion of indwelling catheter, includes water seal (e.g., Pleur-evac) when performed, for prolonged drainage of pleural fluid.
Chest radiographs such as those with lung infiltrate suggestive of pneumonia, show white areas indicating consolidation or fluid within the lungs due to infection. This contrasts a normal X-ray where the lungs appear black because air-filled spaces produce a negative image. Also, images may include additional features like artificial heart valves or pacemakers which appear as various objects on the X-ray.