Atelectasis/Pulmonary Edema

I'm not sure if your question is about pulmonary edema or pulmonary embolism. I interpreted the question asking about the latter, embolism.

My Radiologist is unavailable at this time, I was just going to ask him! (Is there a Rad. in your area whom you may ask?)

I got this off the web, @ medceu, it's one of their tests. Very informative.


Imaging Studies:

The initial chest x-ray (CXR) findings of a patient with PE are virtually always normal.

On rare occasions they may show the Westermark sign, a dilatation of the pulmonary vessels proximal to an embolism along with collapse of distal vessels, sometimes with a sharp cutoff.

Over time, an initially normal CXR often begins to show atelectasis, which may progress to cause a small pleural effusion and an elevated hemidiaphragm.

After 24-72 hours, one third of patients with proven PE develop focal infiltrates that are indistinguishable from an infectious pneumonia.

A rare late finding of pulmonary infarction is the Hampton hump, a triangular or rounded pleural-based infiltrate with the apex pointed toward the hilum, frequently located adjacent to the diaphragm.

Will try to find more for you.

From http://medicine.ucsf.edu/housestaff/...spH2002_C4.htm

Work-up: Always think of PE in patients with new or unexplained dyspnea and/or hypoxemia. Studies should include:

· CXR: abnormal in 84% but non-specific: atelectasis, effusion, basilar opacity, elevated diaphragm, Westermark’s sign (focal decreased pulmonary vessel perfusion), Hampton’s hump (peripheral wedge shaped density).

Another good site specifically about pulmonary embolism:
http://emguidemaps.homestead.com/fil...#Chest%20X-ray


Hope this helps. -- D