Anthrax chest x ray

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]

Overview

The chest X-ray is a sensitive diagnostic test for multiple abnormalities of inhalation anthrax, including mediastinal widening, paratracheal fullness, pleural effusions, parenchymal infiltrates, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Chest X Ray

• The earliest detectable specific finding indicative of inhalational anthrax is mediastinal widening on posteroanterior chest X-rays. However, mediastinal widening is common in a series of patients presenting at a emergency department.

• Lymphatic stasis resulting from the damaged lymph nodes leads to dilatation of pulmonary lymphatics which originate in the pleura and drain towards the hilum, following interlobular septa in association with blood vessels. The lymphatic stasis manifests as an early onset pleural effusion and peripheral infiltrates, representing thickened bronchovascular bundles, detectable on chest X-ray. These findings mark fully developed initial stage illness.

• Bacteria escape from the damaged lymph nodes and invade the blood stream via the thoracic duct. Once the bacteremia and associated toxemia reach a critical level, the severe symptoms characteristic of the acute phase of illness are manifested. During the acute phase, damage of the lung tissue becomes apparent on the X-ray. This damage results from the action of anthrax toxin on the endothelium of the lung’s capillary bed. Primary damage of the lung is not normally a feature of the initial phase of illness and primary pulmonary infection is an uncommon presentation.

Image Gallery

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  This right-lateral chest x-ray revealed evidence of a pulmonic infection 4 days after this patient had been exposed to the bacillus, Bacillus anthracis, the cause of the disease known as anthrax. Adapted from Public Health Image Library (PHIL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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  This right-lateral chest x-ray revealed evidence of a pulmonic infection 13 days after this patient had been exposed to the bacillus, Bacillus anthracis, the cause of the disease known as anthrax. Adapted from Public Health Image Library (PHIL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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  PA chest radiograph of anthrax, 13th day of illness. Adapted from Public Health Image Library (PHIL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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  PA chest radiograph of anthrax, 4th day of illness. Adapted from Public Health Image Library (PHIL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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  This anteroposterior (AP) chest radiograph showed a widened mediastinum due to inhalation anthrax, and was taken 22 hours before death. Adapted from Public Health Image Library (PHIL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.