Chest Radiography II Flashcards
What is the silhouette sign?
An intrathoracic lesion touching the border of the heart, aorta, or diaphragm will obliterate that border on an x-ray
Why is the term airspace disease more appropriate than pneumonia when looking at a CXR?
opacity may not be pneumonia; could be hemorrhage for example.
A radiopacity which overlaps but does not obliterate the heart border is where in the thoracic cavity?
Posteriorly
What is the air bronchogram sign?
The phenomenon of air-filled bronchi (dark) being made visible by the opacification of surrounding alveoli (grey/white)
True or false: intrapulmonary bronchi are not usually visualized on CXR. Why or why not?
True–since they are filled with air, and are surrounded by alveolar air
When are air bronchograms usually seen?
Pneumonia
Pulmonary edema
Bronchoalveolar cell CA
An air bronchogram indicates that the pathology is where?
It indicates that the lesion in within the lung parenchyma, rather than in the pleura or mediastinum
What are the five things that can fill the alveoli to cause the bronchogram sign?
Blood Pus Water Proteinaceous fluid Tumor
What does an air bronchogram sign indicate?
It indicates that the airway is open–unlikely that the lung disease is due to an obstructive tumor
What are the three scenarios in which the air bronchogram sign may not be present?
- bronchi are full of secretions
- Bronchus is obstructed by a FB or tumor
- Incomplete lung consolidation
What are the five mechanisms that cause lung volume loss?
- resorption of air as a result of obstruction of a bronchus
- relaxation of the lung as a result of air or fluid in the pleural space
- Scarring causing lung contraction
- Decreased surfactant
- Hypoventilation
What is atelectasis?
Less severe changes of volume loss than complete collapse
What are the direct signs of lobar collapse? (3)
- Displacement of the interlobar fissure
- Loss of aeration of the involved lobe
- Crowding of the bronchovascular markings
What are the two things on CXR that produce straight lines?
Fissures and air fluid levels
Triangular shaped area behind the lung = ?
Left lower lobe collapse
What are the indirect signs of lobar collapse? (5)
- Elevation of the ipsilateral diaphragm
- Deviation of the trachea to the side of collapse
- Cardiac displacement toward side of collapse
- Narrowing of the rib cage on the side of collapse
- Compensatory overaeration of the adjacent normal lung
What happens to the hemidiaphragm with lobar collapse?
Elevation of the ipsilateral diaphragm
What happens to the hilum with lobe collapse?
If higher lobe, then elevation
If lower lobe, then depression
What happens to the trachea with lobe collapse?
Deviate toward affected side
What happens to the heart with lobar collapse?
Displacement toward the side of the collapse
What happens to the rib cage with lobar collapse?
Narrowing on the side of collapse
What happens to the adjacent, normal lung with lobar collapse?
Overaeration
What happens to the minor fissure with RUL collapse?
Horizontal fissure goes superiorly
What are the radiographic findings of a RML collapse (PA and lateral)?
Ill defined shadowing obscuring the right heart border on PA film.
Lateral film shows thin wedge between the major and minor fissures
What are the radiological findings with a RLL collapse (PA and lateral views)?
PA = obliteration of the right hemidiaphragm, but normal heart border Lat = Abnormally increased density over the lower thoracic spine d/t the triangular shaped density of the collapsed lobe. The major fissure is displaced downward
What are the radiological findings with LUL collapse (PA and lateral views)?
PA = LUL collapses forward and thus presents no sharp margins Lat = The collapsed lobe is visible as a band of soft tissue retrosternally
What happens to the major fissure with LUL collapse?
Major fissure is pulled anteriorly
What are the radiological findings with LLL collapse (PA and lateral views)?
PA = triangular retrocardiac opacity with major fissure pulled medially Lat = Increased opacity over the lower thoracic spine
What is the most common cause of a central airway obstruction in children?
Mucous plug or aspirated foreign body
What is the most common cause of a central airway obstruction in adults younger than 40?
Mucous plug
What is the most common cause of a central airway obstruction in adults over 40?
bronchogenic CA
Why is lobar collapse common with ventilator use?
Increased mucus secretion
What are the two major structures of the lungs?
Interstitium
Alveoli
Multiple alveoli form what? Several of these form what?
Acini
Secondary pulmonary lobule
What are the two major ways that the lung can respond to disease?
Thicken or thin
Most interstitial lung disease is acute or chronic? What about airspace disease?
Interstitial = Chronic Airspace = acute
What are the four variables of lung disease?
Interstitium (thicken/thin)
Alveoli (fluid/air)
Location (focal/diffuse)
Time (acute/chronic)