Lung atelectasis

Last revised by Liz Silverstone on 12 Oct 2024

Lung atelectasis (plural: atelectases) refers to lung collapse, which can be minor or profound and can be focal, lobar or multilobar depending on the cause.

According to the fourth Fleischner glossary of terms, atelectasis is synonymous with collapse 13.

Atelectasis is a radiopathological sign that can be categorized in many ways. Each approach aims to help identify possible underlying causes together with other accompanying radiological and clinical findings.

Atelectasis can be subcategorised based on the underlying mechanism, as follows:

Atelectasis can also be subcategorised by morphology: 

Lastly atelectasis can be described according to anatomical extent:

Vary depending on the underlying mechanism and type of atelectasis

  • displacement of interlobar fissures

  • crowding together of pulmonary vessels

  • crowded air bronchograms (does not apply to all types of atelectasis; can be seen in subsegmental atelectasis due to small peripheral bronchi obstruction, usually by secretions; if the cause of the atelectasis is central bronchial obstruction, there will usually be no air bronchograms)

  • pulmonary opacification

  • shifting granuloma (or any other previously documented lesion, used as a reference for comparison)

  • compensatory hyperexpansion of the surrounding or contralateral lung

  • displacement of the heart, mediastinum, trachea, hilum

  • elevation of the diaphragm

  • propinquity of the ribs

  • increased density (opacity) of the atelectatic portion of lung

  • displacement of the fissures toward the area of atelectasis

  • upward displacement of hemidiaphragm ipsilateral to the side of atelectasis

  • crowding of pulmonary vessels and bronchi in region of atelectasis

  • +/- compensatory overinflation of unaffected lung

  • +/- displacement of thoracic structures (if atelectasis is substantial)

  • relatively thin, linear densities in the lung bases oriented parallel to the diaphragm (known as Fleischner lines

The sonographic morphology of atelectatic lung may resemble hepatic parenchyma, often referred to as  "tissue-like" or "hepatized" in appearance. Distinguishing features of atelectasis by etiology may appear as follows:

  • compressive atelectasis is most often visualized in the costophrenic recess bordered by a disproportionately large pleural effusion

    • low-level, homogenous echogenicity with few to no air bronchograms

    • margins are usually regular with a triangular shape 10

    • a shred sign may be present at the transition to aerated lung

  • obstructive atelectasis

    • early static air bronchograms due to distal air trapping

    • as the air is resorbed, bronchi may fill with fluid resulting in anechoic, tubular structures known as fluid bronchograms 11

    • may be differentiated from blood vessels with color flow Doppler 

Air bronchograms indicate patency of the proximal airways and the airways will be crowded indicating volume loss. If air bronchograms are absent suspect an obstructing lesion or mucoid impaction. In this latter case, bronchoscopy may be helpful.

Following IV contrast medium, atelectatic lung enhances more than skeletal muscle 12.

These features of volume loss and marked enhancement together with the absence of fever help to distinguish atelectasis from pneumonic consolidation.

Atelectasis comes from the Greek words 'ateles' and 'ektasis' translating to 'incomplete expansion' 6.

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