Air-space consolidation

Chest X-ray

(PA view) at initial presentation showing consol- idation within the right mid and both lower lobes.

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A very

prominent pneumonia of the middle lobe of the right lung.

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CT of the

chest demonstrating right-sided pneumonia ( left side of the image ).

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Air space

opacification • Left lower lobe pneumonia - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Jahangiri, A. Left lower lobe pneumonia. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 03 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-46845 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Air space

opacification • Pulmonary consolidation with air bronchograms - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Cuete, D. Pulmonary consolidation with air bronchograms. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 03 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-30227 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Air space

opacification • Left lingula consolidation - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Gaillard, F. Left lingula consolidation. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 03 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-7393 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Air space

opacification • Right lower lobe consolidation - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Jones, J. Right lower lobe consolidation. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 03 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-8784 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Air space

opacification • Thickened bowel - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Jones, J. Thickened bowel. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 03 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6442 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Air space

opacification • Right upper lobe pneumonia - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Bickle, I. Right upper lobe pneumonia. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 03 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-26934 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Air space

opacification • Lung consolidation on ultrasound - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Bickle, I. Lung consolidation on ultrasound. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 03 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-59328 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

Air space opacification is a descriptive term that refers to filling of the pulmonary tree with material that attenuates x-rays more than the surrounding lung parenchyma. It is one of the many patterns of lung opacification and is equivalent to the pathological diagnosis of pulmonary consolidation.

In radiological studies, it presents as increased attenuation of the lung parenchyma causing obscuration of pulmonary vessels, without significant loss of volume, in the segment(s) affected. Air bronchograms can also be found .

Pathology

Causes

The opacification is caused by fluid or solid material within the airways that causes a difference in the relative attenuation of the lung:

transudate, e.g. pulmonary edema secondary to heart failure
pus, e.g. bacterial pneumonia
blood, e.g. pulmonary hemorrhage
cells, e.g. bronchoalveolar carcinoma
protein, e.g. alveolar proteinosis
fat, e.g. lipoid pneumonia
gastric contents, e.g. aspiration pneumonia
water, e.g. drowning

When considering the likely causes of airspace opacification, it is useful to determine chronicity (by reviewing previous radiographs) and considering laterality.

Additionally, the presence of mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy further refines the massive list of differentials: