Emphysema (PA Film) (left image) Hyperinflation, darkened lung fields, and decreased vascular markings. Emphysema (Lateral Film) (right image) Large retrosternal airspace, increased AP diametre (barrel chest), flattened hemi-diaphragms.
The following is a useful mnemonic for the differential diagnosis of a cavitating lung lesion: Cancer Autoimmune Vascular Infection (e.g. Tuberculosis) Trauma Youth (congenital)
Bullae are often associated with emphysema. By definition, a bulla is a gas-containing, avascular area of lung at least 1 cm in diameter and with a wall thickness of at least 1 mm. The arrows indicate bullae visible on the chest x-ray (left) and CT scan (right) of a...
Ill-defined fluffy structures with confluences plus or minus air bronchograms. [Courtesy of Dr. M. Hutcheon]
The air bronchograms seen in this chest x-ray and CT scan represent lucent branching bronchi visible through surrounding (opaque) airspace disease.
