1.1: Lung patterns Flashcards
What are the 4 lung patterns?
- Alveolar
- Interstitial
- Bronchial
- Vascular
These arise from the 4 things we have in the lungs (air in the alveoli, airways, interstitium, and blood vessels).
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Alveolar pattern
This pattern creates a soft tissue-like opacity within the lungs; think of it as heavy fog obscuring structures.
There is border obliteration (we can no longer clearly distinguish the cardiac silhouette).
We can still see air bronchograms because alveolar diseases spared the airways.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Alveolar pattern
There is characteristic border obliteration
We can see tramlines and donuts. Which lung pattern is shown here?
Interstitial
This is like looking through mist or a lace curtain; structures are not obliterated, but are greyed-out.
Donuts and tramlines = abnormal thickening of the airway (bronchiole) walls -> bronchial pattern
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Mixed alveolar and interstitial
We can see air bronchograms.
There is border obliteration of the diaphragm.
There is a generalised increase in radiodensity throughout the lungs.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Mixed alveolar and interstitial
This is from a dog with Angiostrongylus vasorum.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Interstitial
There is generalised greying-out of the lungs but no border obliteration or air bronchograms.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Alveolar
This is limited to the diaphragmatic lung lobes.
There is border obliteration of the diaphragm.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Interstitial
Which lung pattern is shown in Case 1? Justify your answer.
Interstitial
There is a diffuse increase in radiodensity (greying-out, lace curtain) but no border obliteration
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Interstitial pattern
There is a generalised increase in radiodensity but no border obliteration.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Nodular interstitial pattern
This is associated with metastatic lung tumours.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Diffuse interstitial
This is associated with metastatic lung tumours.
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Bronchial
We can see the tramlines of dilated airways that don’t taper
Which lung pattern is shown here?
Bronchial
These are bronchiectatic airways (dilated and weak)
Hilus of the lungs is a good place to look