What does it mean when your lung is whited out?

What is a lung consolidation? Lung consolidation occurs when the air that usually fills the small airways in your lungs is replaced with something else. Depending on the cause, the air may be replaced with: a fluid, such as pus, blood, or water.

What does white mean on lung xray?

The white shadows on chest X-ray represent more dense or solid tissues, such as bone or heart, and the darker shadows on the chest X-ray represent air filled tissues, such as lungs.

Why does pneumonectomy cause white out?

Radiographic features Pneumonectomy is one of the causes of a white out of the hemithorax. The hemithorax is completely opacified with the trachea pulled towards the side of the abnormality.

What are lung opacities?

Pulmonary opacity is a nonspecific term describing an area of increased pulmonary attenuation caused by an intraparenchymal process. There are various types of pulmonary opacities, easily categorized as extensive, nodular, reticular, or cystic.

What causes a white out lung on a CXR?

Complete White Out’ on the CXR has a limited number of causes. The differential diagnosis can be shortened further with one simple observation – the position of the trachea. Is it central, pulled or pushed from the side of opacification?

What causes a white line on a chest X-ray?

If an area of lung is consolidated it becomes dense and white. If the larger airways are spared, they are of relatively low density (blacker). This phenomenon is known as air bronchogram and it is a characteristic sign of consolidation. Careful comparison of the lung zones can lead to noticing smaller abnormalities which may otherwise be ignored.

What to look for in a White Lung?

When confronted with a white lung it is important to be thorough in looking for the features suggestive of collapse since the presence of collapse indicates possible serious pathology. Collapse of the lung leads to a loss of volume of that part of the lung and so the normal radiological landmarks will be distorted.

Where is the white line in the lung field?

On the lateral film you may see a white triangle at the bottom posterior corner of the lung fields (2) and the vertebral bodies will appear whiter. This patient had a pneumonectomy several years ago. The left hemi-thorax is white, and the mediastinum has shifted to the left.