What Pneumonia Actually Looks Like on Chest X-ray?
A quick guide on what radiologists see and what it means for you.
What Pneumonia Actually Looks Like on Chest X-ray?
A quick guide on what radiologists see and what it means for you.
Author via Canva
Many of you receive your X-ray report without knowing what the findings illustrate. Let me walk through a normal chest X-ray before digging into abnormalities.
The normal lungs appear dark on X-ray because X-ray radiation can easily pass through the air.
On the other hand,
Pneumonia on X-ray appears lighter than a normal one. The fluid fills the air sacs due to infection, replacing the air.
The fluid in the lungs blocks the radiation, creating a cloudy white patch, also known as consolidation.
When a doctor suspects pneumonia, they request a chest X-ray because it’s fast, accessible, and provides instant visual reports.
Plus, do not forget to follow up with your doctor to know more about the findings.
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