Which imaging technique provides a three-dimensional view of structures in the chest?

The imaging technique that provides a three-dimensional view of structures in the chest is a CT scan of the chest. This method utilizes multiple X-ray images taken from different angles, which a computer then processes to create cross-sectional images of the chest. These images can be reconstructed to visualize anatomy in three dimensions, offering detailed information about the lungs, pleura, blood vessels, and other mediastinal structures.

In contrast, an AP chest x-ray and a lateral chest x-ray provide two-dimensional images. While they can reveal certain conditions in the chest, they do not offer the same level of detail or three-dimensional insight as a CT scan. Pleural ultrasound is primarily used for evaluating soft tissue structures and fluid collection—again, not providing the comprehensive three-dimensional view that a CT scan does. Therefore, for thorough investigation and visualization of anatomical structures in the chest in three dimensions, the CT scan is the preferred imaging technique.