Pneumonia chest x ray
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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; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H.[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. (See below.)
If a person is not getting better with antibiotics, or if the health care provider has concerns about the diagnosis, a cultureof the person's sputum may be requested.
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.
- Computed tomography in situations of diagnostic dilema.
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