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Atelectasis on Chest XRay

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Atelectasis on Chest XRay, Lobar Collapse on Chest XRay

  • See Also
  1. Atelectasis
  2. Chest XRay
  3. Chest XRay Interpretation
  4. Air Bronchogram
  5. Atelectasis on Chest XRay
  6. Hilar Adenopathy on Chest XRay
  7. Alveolar Infiltrate on Chest XRay
  8. Interstitial Infiltrate on Chest XRay
  9. Lung Nodule
  10. Straight Pulmonary Lines
  11. Wide Mediastinum on Chest XRay
  12. Chest XRay in Pneumothorax
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Lung consolidates as gas is absorbed from obstructed segments
    1. Lung parenchyma decreases in volume and becomes more dense
  2. Consolidated lung gradually becomes more visible on plain Chest XRay
    1. Consolidated lung density matches the density of soft tissue
    2. Obscures normal lung landmark structures (e.g. mediastinum, costophrenic angle)
  • Causes
  1. See Atelectasis
  2. Obstructive Atelectasis (Bronchial Obstruction) from Lung Mass, mucus plugging, Foreign Body Aspiration
  3. Compression Atelectasis from Pneumothorax or Pleural Effusion
  4. Traction Atalectasis (lung scarring distorts alveoli) from chronic lung fibrosis or severe Pneumonia
  5. Relaxation Atelectasis (passive Atelectasis) from focal Splinting of respiratory Muscle (e.g. Rib Fractures)
  • Findings
  1. Mediastinal shift
    1. Massive whole lung collapse
    2. Lower lobe collapse
  2. Tracheal Deviation
    1. Occurs with whole lung collapse
    2. Trachea deviates toward the area of lung collapse
  3. Upward hilar displacement
    1. Upper lobe collapse
  4. Downward hilar displacement
    1. Lower lobe collapse
  5. Shift of fissures
    1. Affects any segment
    2. May shift from horizontal to vertical orientation
  6. Narrowing of costal interspaces
    1. Massive Atelectasis
  7. Plate-Like Atelectasis
    1. White-streaks resulting from a narrow band of alveolar collapse
  • References
  1. Broder (2021) Crit Dec Emerg Med 35(6): 12-3