Retrotracheal space
The retrotracheal space (or Raider triangle) is a radiolucent mediastinal space best seen on lateral chest x-rays. It is normally triangular in shape but can vary greatly in size and shape depending on the patient's body habitus and lung volume .
Boundaries
- anterior: posterior tracheal stripe/tracheo-esophageal stripe
- posterior: thoracic vertebral bodies
- inferior: aortic arch
- superior: thoracic inlet
History and etymology
The retrotracheal space was first described by Louis Raider (1913-1999) in 1973 , although he had a hard time finding a journal willing to accept it, both Radiology and AJR rejected the manuscript. Ben Felson called it Raider's triangle in his Caldwell Lecture in 1986 .
