Air-space opacification (summary)
Updates to Article Attributes
This is a basic article which is aimed at medical students and non-radiologists in training grades. If you've arrived here by accident, and need more information, head to the main consolidation article.
Consolidation is a radiological sign that refers to non-specific air-space opacification on a chest radiograph or chest CT. Many things can fill the alveolar spaces, including fluid (heart failure), pus (pneumonia), blood (pulmonary haemorrhage) and cells (lung cancer).
Clinical presentation
Presentation is dependent on the underlying cause. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, productive cough +/- haemoptosis, fevers/chills/rigors and weight loss, particularly if malignancy is suspected.
On examination, decreased chest expansion may be noted on the affected side and dullness to percussion. On auscultation, findings include bronchial breath sounds, inspiratory crackles or crepitations, increased vocal resonance and pleural rub.
Pathology
Pneumonia with pus filling the alveoli is the most common cause of acute consolidation. Other acute causes include blood from haemorrhage or contusions and transudative fluid from pulmonary oedema seen in heart failure.
Chronic consolidation will be likely due to a malignant process. Bronchoalveolar carcinoma, lymphoma and lung neoplasms with post-obstructive pneumonia result in malignant cells causing the consolidation seen on radiograph. Chronic post-infection diseases such as organising penumonia or eosinophilic pneumonia as also causes, with alveolar proteinosis a rare cause resulting in alveoli filled with protein.
Radiographic features
Consolidated areas are radio opaque on chest radiograph and chest CT compared to normally air filled lung tissue. The distribution pattern of consolidation can aid in narrowing the potential differential diagnosis.
-<p>This is a <em>basic article</em> which is aimed at medical students and non-radiologists in training grades. If you've arrived here by accident, and need more information, head to the main <a href="/articles/air-space-opacification-1">consolidation</a> article.</p><p><strong>Consolidation</strong> is a radiological sign that refers to non-specific air-space opacification on a chest radiograph or chest CT. Many things can fill the alveolar spaces, including fluid (heart failure), pus (pneumonia), blood (pulmonary haemorrhage) and cells (lung cancer).</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Presentation is dependent on the underlying cause. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, productive cough +/- haemoptosis, fevers/chills/rigors and weight loss, particularly if malignancy is suspected.</p><p>On examination, decreased chest expansion may be noted on the affected side and dullness to percussion. On auscultation, findings include bronchial breath sounds, inspiratory crackles or crepitations, increased vocal resonance and pleural rub.</p><p> </p>- +<p>This is a <em>basic article</em> which is aimed at medical students and non-radiologists in training grades. If you've arrived here by accident, and need more information, head to the main <a href="/articles/air-space-opacification-1">consolidation</a> article.</p><p><strong>Consolidation</strong> is a radiological sign that refers to non-specific air-space opacification on a chest radiograph or chest CT. Many things can fill the alveolar spaces, including fluid (heart failure), pus (pneumonia), blood (pulmonary haemorrhage) and cells (lung cancer).</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Presentation is dependent on the underlying cause. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, productive cough +/- haemoptosis, fevers/chills/rigors and weight loss, particularly if malignancy is suspected.</p><p>On examination, decreased chest expansion may be noted on the affected side and dullness to percussion. On auscultation, findings include bronchial breath sounds, inspiratory crackles or crepitations, increased vocal resonance and pleural rub.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Pneumonia with pus filling the alveoli is the most common cause of acute consolidation. Other acute causes include blood from haemorrhage or contusions and transudative fluid from pulmonary oedema seen in heart failure.</p><p>Chronic consolidation will be likely due to a malignant process. Bronchoalveolar carcinoma, lymphoma and lung neoplasms with post-obstructive pneumonia result in malignant cells causing the consolidation seen on radiograph. Chronic post-infection diseases such as organising penumonia or eosinophilic pneumonia as also causes, with alveolar proteinosis a rare cause resulting in alveoli filled with protein.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>Consolidated areas are radio opaque on chest radiograph and chest CT compared to normally air filled lung tissue. The distribution pattern of consolidation can aid in narrowing the potential differential diagnosis.</p>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.