Pneumonia chest x ray: Difference between revisions
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''A'': Normal chest x-ray. ''B'': Abnormal chest x-ray with shadowing from pneumonia in the right lung (white area, left side of image).]] | ''A'': Normal chest x-ray. ''B'': Abnormal chest x-ray with shadowing from pneumonia in the right lung (white area, left side of image).]] | ||
* [[X-ray]]s of the chest (reveal areas of opacity). A normal chest x-ray makes CAP less likely; however, CAP is sometimes not seen on x-rays because the disease is either in its initial stages or involves a part of the lung not easily seen by x-ray. | * [[X-ray]]s of the chest (reveal areas of opacity). A normal chest x-ray makes CAP less likely; however, CAP is sometimes not seen on x-rays because the disease is either in its initial stages or involves a part of the lung not easily seen by x-ray. | ||
* [[Chest X-ray]] findings are usually nonspecific in [[viral pneumonia]]. | |||
* [[Chest X-ray]] findings are usually nonspecific in viral pneumonia. | * [[Computed tomography]] is used in situations of diagnostic dilemma. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:52, 9 September 2012
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Pneumonia chest x ray On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pneumonia chest x ray |
Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.D. [2]
Overview
An important test for pneumonia in unclear situations is a chest x-ray. Chest x-rays can reveal areas of opacity (seen as white) which represent consolidation. Pneumonia is not always seen on x-rays, either because the disease is only in its initial stages, or because it involves a part of the lung not easily seen by x-ray. In some cases, chest CT (computed tomography) can reveal pneumonia that is not seen on chest x-ray. X-rays can be misleading, because other problems, like lung scarring and congestive heart failure, can mimic pneumonia on x-ray.[1] Chest x-rays are also used to evaluate for complications of pneumonia.
Imaging
- X-rays of the chest (reveal areas of opacity). A normal chest x-ray makes CAP less likely; however, CAP is sometimes not seen on x-rays because the disease is either in its initial stages or involves a part of the lung not easily seen by x-ray.
- Chest X-ray findings are usually nonspecific in viral pneumonia.
- Computed tomography is used in situations of diagnostic dilemma.
References
- ↑ Syrjala H, Broas M, Suramo I, et al. High resolution computed tomography for the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. Clin Infect Dis 1998; 27:358-363 PMID 9709887