Which of the following chest x-ray finding is a common feature of ARDS and cardiogenic pulmonary edema?
Cardiomegaly
Pleural effusions
Pulmonary vascular redistribution
Alveolar and interstitial opacities
In ARDS, the chest radiograph usually reveals alveolar and interstitial opacities involving at least three-quaers of the lung fields. While characteristic for ARDS, these radiographic findings are not specific and can be indistinguishable from cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Unlike the latter, however, the chest x-ray in ARDS rarely shows cardiomegaly, pleural effusions, or pulmonary vascular redistribution. Chest CT in ARDS reveals extensive heterogeneity of lung involvement. Figure: Diffuse bilateral coalescent opacities and groundglas opacities, mediastinal lymphadenomatosis.
Cardiovascular Radiology