Lobar Pneumonia Xray and Generalities

Lobar Pneumonia

• What is it??– It is a form of pneumonia that affects a large and

continuous area of the lobe of the lung– It is one of the two anatomic classifications of

pneumonia (the other being bronchopneumonia).

Lobar Pneumonia

• Symptoms: Usually has an acute progress which can be divided into 4 stages:– Congestion in the first 24 hours– Red hepatisation or consolidation– Grey Hepatisation– Resolution

Lobar Pneumonia

• Bacterial Causes:– Streptococcus pneumoniae (Most common cause) – Mycoplasma – Gram negative organisms – Legionella

Role of X-ray

Role of X-Ray

• Pneumonia is suspected on the basis of a patient's symptoms and findings from physical examination

• To help confirm the diagnosis usually a chest X-Ray is ordered.

• Chest x-rays can reveal areas of opacity which represent consolidation.

• Consolidation occurs through accumulation of inflammatory cellular exudate in the alveoli and adjoining ducts. (alveolar space that contains liquid instead of gas.)

Role of X-ray

• Infiltrates can be divided in to alveoli and interstitial.– Alveloli infiltrate have Ill defined margins, a fluffy

apearance, patchy densities, which coalesce• Bacterial pneumonia affects lobe & lobule producing

alveolar infiltrate

– Infiltrates outside the sac: can be at interstitium, septum or at the framework • In Viral pneumonia has interstitial pattern initially

Lung Infiltrates

Acinar (usually from bacteria)• varying in size• indistinct edges• larger, hazy margins, cotton

wool

Interstitial (Viral)• same size• sharp edges• smaller densities

• In pneumonia, depending upon the amount and distribution of the airspaces involved, may present as confluent parenchymal (lobar or segmental) opacity or merely patchy opacity.

• Air bronchograms would also confirm an alveolar process.

Lobar Pneumonia Xray

Lobar Pneumonia Xray