What is the significant x-ray finding on the above film?
Question 1 - Single Best Answer
What is the significant x-ray finding on the above film?
A) Central alveolar edema with cephalization of blood vessels
CORRECT!
Alveolar edema is seen as a density in the lung due to filling of the alveoli with fluid. Alveolar edema usually is confluent and has fluffy margins. The central location of the edema creates a "silhouette sign" around the heart and central vessels. Most structures in the thorax are visualized because of air in the lung. Therefore, when the lung becomes opacified, the silhouette of the structures adjacent to the opacified lung is lost. Also seen is cardiomegaly (an adult heart shadow should be less than 1/2 the thoracic diameter, measured rib to rib, on an upright PA film).