______________________________________________ Approach to lung & pleural opaque lesions in the CHEST X RAY ______________________________________________ A} Diffuse lung pathology( abnormal opacities affecting the whole lung or most of them. 📋 Possibilities: 1) Diffuse alveolar (air space ) infiltrates = PULMONARY EDEMA. ★Character:- Diffuse fluffy cotton opacities with indistinct borders which are confluent The opacities are containing air bronchogram( black lines) There is evidence of "SILHOUETTE SIGN" Silhouette sign= obscuring of heart borders. 📋 Possibilities: 👉 #Non- cardiogenic Pulmonary edema( ARDS).... The same character with normal heart size and normal cardiac contours History is usually suggestive. ------------------------------------------ # Cardiogenic Pulmonary edema ... The same character with cardiomegaly with abnormal cardiac contours. E.g: enlarged left heart border, with perihilar shadows ( Butterfly or batwing appearance) + cephalization( Upper lobe diversion)= prominent vessels in upper lobes± Kerley B lines. ________________________________________ B) Diffuse interstitial shadow:- Character:- Diffuse lines arranged in net like distribution [ RETICULAR] , or lines mixed with dots [ Reticulonodular ] Or diffuse dots all over the whole lung fields [ Nodular]. 📃 Possibilities:- A} Reticular shadow:- 👉 If you find it, look at the heart size& borders👇 ✂ If there is enlarged heart with left heart border + perihilar distribution+ upper lobe diversion 👇 ⏳ Interstitial pulmonary edema with left sided heart failure. 👉 If the heart size and borders are normal 👇 ⏳ interstitial lung diseases ( if chronic symptoms. DD idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) Interstitial pneumonitis. Collagen diseases. Drugs. Sarcoidosis. Occupational lung diseases. ⌛ If acute illness DD Viral pneumonias PCP pneumonia. -------------------- B} Reticulonodular shadow: The same possibilities as diffuse Reticular shadow. ---------------------- C} Diffuse Nodular shadow: 📋 Possibilities: ✂ Macro-nodular( multiple large nodules) Usually metastases to the lungs , could be in the form of canon ball appearance. ✂ Micro-nodular( multiple small nodules) I- miliary TB II- distant metastases to both lungs. ##########