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

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 .