Aspiration

When foreign objects or swallowed or aspirated into the air passages of the bronchial tree. Most common in small children but in adults, food particles being aspirated will cause coughing and gagging. Evident in the lower airways.

Atelectasis

A condition not a disease. When a portion or the entire lung collapses as a result of obstruction of the bronchus or a puncture of the air passageway. The affected area will appear more radiodense and the heart may be shifted to the affected side.

Bronchitis

Condition in which excessive mucus is secreted into the bronchi causing a cough and shortness of breath. Chief cause is a result of smoking cigarettes. Infectious bronchitis can be caused by a virus or bacteria. Can be acute or chronic. 

Cystic Fibrosis

The most common inherited deases. A condtion in which secretions of heavy mucus make a progressive clogging of the bronchi and bronchioles. On CXR it will appear as increased radiodensities along with hyperinflation. 

Emphysema

A disease in which the air spaces in the alveoli become enlarged as a result of alveolar wall destruction and loss of elasticity. The air in the lung does not get expelled during expiration and results in labored breathing due to the lack of gas exchange. This is a chronic, irrevsible disease. 

Pleural Effusion

Previously known as hydrothorax. An occupational lung disease. Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity. 

• Enphysema-an excess of pus. Likley from obstruction, trauma or an abcess.

• Hemothorax- an excess of blood likely from heart failure. 

Patient in the lateral decubitus positon with the effected side down.

Pneumonia

An inflammation of the lungs that results in an excess of fluid in certain portions. The specific type of pneumonia is based on the areas that are affected by inflammation and the cause. The areas affected show as radiodensities. 

• Aspiration- foreign object or food in the lungs.

• Bronchopneumonia- likely from strep or staph bacteria. 

• Lobar- confined to one or two lobes of the lungs.  

• Viral

Pulmonary Edema

A condition of excess fluid in the lung cavity that is likely due to a backup in the pulmonary circulatory system. A weaker heart, such as those with heart failure have a poor blood output. This then leads to a poor pulmonary circulation, causing a backup of blood in the lungs. 

Respiratory Stress Syndrome (RDS)

Emergent situation in where the alveoli and capillaries of the lungs are injured or infected. This leads to a leakage of fluid or blood into the spaces between the alveoli or the alveoli themselves. Hyline membranes are formed and the alveoli collagpse due to the lack of internal tension. 

Tuberculosis

It's a contagious disease caused by airborne bacteria. It was an extremely fatal disease before a vaccine was created for it.

• Primary- Refers to an individual who hasn't ever been infected before. PA and lateral chest.

• Reactivation- Refers to an individual who is reinfected. Irregular calcifications that are mottled in appearance. PA and lateral chest. AP lordotic chest.  

Bronchiectasis

Irreversiable dilation or widing of the bronchi. The cause is likkely from a repeteaded pulmonary infection or obstruction. Areas of the bronchial walls are destroyed and become chronically inflamed. This causes an excess of mucus and a chronic cough. 

PA and lateral chest.

Dyspnea

A condition of shortness of breath which creates a sensation of difficulty in breathing. Most common in geriatric patients but can be caused by restrictive or obstructive defects in the lungs or airways.

Epiglottitis

A serious life-threatening condition that develops rapidly. Edema or swilling at the point of the epiglottis is shown on a lateral soft tissue x-ray. 

Lung Neoplasm

A growth or tumor. Can be malignant or benign. 

• Benign- (noncancerous). The most common type is a hamartoma. Found in the peripheral regions of the lungs. 

• Malignant- (cancerous) More than 90% of lung cancers start in the bronchi. Many cancers of the body will start in different areas and then move to the lungs. Show in the early stages as slight shadows and move to more sharply defined radiopaque masses in late stages. 

Occupational Lung Disease

Refulting from occupational exposure including certain types of mine work, sandblasting and similar profession. X-rays will show scarring of the lungs.

• Anthracosis- Caused from coal dust.

• Asbestosis- Caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust which is a type of fiber. 

• Silicosis-Caused by the inhalation of silica dust. These patients are twice as likely to develop TB.