Pulmonary edema (summary)

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This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists

Pulmonary edema refers to the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the extravascular compartments of the lung. This initially results in interstitial edema and perihilar airspace opacification.

Reference article

This is a summary article; read more in our article on pulmonary edema.

Summary

  • epidemiology
    • a wide group of affected individuals
  • presentation
    • chest pain
    • shortness of breath
    • diaphoresis
    • desaturation
  • pathophysiology
  • investigation
    • chest X-ray
      • first-line investigation
      • search for potential causes
    • blood tests
      • electrolytes to search for causes
      • renal function
  • treatment

Radiographic features

Chest X-ray
  • cephalisation of upper lobe vessels
  • interstitial opacities
    • peribronchovascular cuffing
    • septal lines (a.k.a. Kerley B lines)
  • airspace opacification
    • filling of the alveoli with fluid
    • when severe and acute, has a perihilar or 'batwing' distribution
    • air bronchograms: air-filled bronchi running through fluid-filled alveoli
  • pleural effusion
CT chest
  • same as CXR
  • may see the cause
Medical student radiology curriculum