title: Radiographic patterns of pulmonary disease.
abstract: Pulmonary radiographs are essential adjuncts to the evaluation and diagnosis of suspected pulmonary disease. In the intensive care unit, radiographs are useful to confirm correct positioning of diagnostic and therapeutic devices. Patterns seen on the radiograph may be within broadly normal limits or may be interpreted as abnormal, especially when placed in the clinical context of a specific patient's problem. The description abnormal can be related to both nonspecific and specific radiographic patterns of disease. Nonspecific radiographic patterns of disease include location of disease, temporal course of disease, pleural abnormalities, hyperinflation, extra-alveolar air, atelectasis, bronchiectasis, and vascular disease. Specific radiographic patterns of disease are discrete anatomic structures seen on a radiograph, for example, cavitary and cystic disease. The interpretation of nonspecific and specific radiographic patterns is useful in diagnosis, selection of treatment, and monitoring of the course of disease and the patient's response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grodzin
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Balk
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bone
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003422:Critical Care; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging