Redistribution of pulmonary blood flow in pneumonia patients under the influence of gravitation.
In 120 pneumonia patients studied by means of chest radiography, an alteration of density of consolidated areas was detected, depending on the spatial position of the patient during investigation. The pneumonic consolidation shadow grew denser when the radiograph was taken in horizontal position with the damaged lung on the lower side. In contrast to this, the shadow density was markedly diminished when the patient was turned on the opposite (healthy) side. Such quick changing of the radiographic image is explained as a consequence of gravitational influence on the pulmonary circulation. In 20 patients with bronchial carcinoma, changing of the shadow density of the damaged area was very slight. It is believed that this difference may be useful in the identification and diagnosis of these diseases.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging