Have you ever wondered what the description of your X-ray result means? How to interpret it? What kind of disease can it suggest? If so, I invite you to read the article. Remember, however, that the interpretation of the result is a real art and the article will not teach you how to interpret X-ray images, but it will help you understand the complex nomenclature that often appears in test descriptions.
X-ray (X-ray, x-ray) of the chest is one of the most important imaging tests in pulmonology and cardiology. It allows the assessment of structures in the chest, such as the lungs, bronchi, heart and ribs.
The main ones indications for a chest X-ray are:
- pneumonia diagnostics,
- diagnostics of neoplastic changes,
- diagnostics of interstitial diseases,
- suspicion of pneumothorax or atelectasis,
- assessment before surgery.
Selected terms used in the description of X-ray
You have probably wondered more than once what the complicated phrases in the description of the X-ray examination mean and what they mean for you and your health. The most important and the most common are listed below.
- Round shadow on the lung X-ray
Which means: a single lump in the lung, up to 3 cm in diameter.
Interpretation: most often means cancer (benign or malignant), abscess or granulomatous disease (eg sarcoidosis).
- Spotted shadows on x-ray of the lungs
What they mean and how to interpret them: they can be small-spot (picture of tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis or neoplastic spread), medium-spot (can mean bronchopneumonia or tuberculosis or neoplastic metastases) and coarse-spot (picture of tuberculosis or neoplastic disease).
- Lumpy shadow on x-ray of the lungs
Which means: a big change (more than 4 cm), of any shape.
Interpretation: Its presence suggests lung cancer, abscess, or encysted fluid.
Read more about lung abscess and its diagnosis
- Ring shadows (also known as ring shadows) on X-ray of the lungs
Interpretation: indicate lung cysts, emphysema, empty abscesses or cavernous fibro-tuberculosis.
- Streaked shadows on X-ray of the lungs
Interpretation: they are characteristic of pleural adhesions and interstitial pulmonary edema.
- Kerley Lines on Lung X-ray
What they mean: These are thickened partitions of the lung due to the presence of abnormal cells or fluid.
Interpretation: It is most commonly seen in chronic pulmonary edema or interstitial fibrosis.
- Lite shading on the lung X-ray
What they mean: they indicate the compaction of the pulmonary parenchyma resulting, among others, from due to inflammation or fibrosis and the presence of fluid in the pleural cavity.
Interpretation: Most often, solid shadows indicate atelectasis, lobar pneumonia, and pleural fluid.
Find out what influences the appearance of fluid in the pleural cavity
- Excessive transparency of the pulmonary fields on X-ray of the lungs
Interpretation: in the case of bilateral lesions, the most common causes are emphysema, asthma attack, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary hypertension. In the case of lesions affecting only one lung, consideration should be given to pneumothorax, foreign body and emphysema.
- Atelectasis (round or lamellar) on X-ray of the lungs
Which means: it is the result of reduced lung volume with limited lung aeration.
Interpretation: Atelectasis due to pressure (due to the presence of fluid or air in the pleura) and atelectasis resulting from secondary air resorption from the alveoli are distinguished. It manifests itself as solid x-ray shade.
- Honeycomb symptom on X-ray of the lungs
Which means: the presence of small, thick-walled cysts.
Interpretation: It occurs in such conditions as: advanced interstitial fibrosis or bronchiectasis.
- Emphysema bladder on X-ray of the lungs
Which means: it is a circular air space in the lung with a diameter greater than 1 cm.
Interpretation: Indicates emphysema.
Find out what is emphysema
- Peripheral distribution in X-ray of the lungs
Which means: location of the lesion within 2 cm from the pleura.
- Cyst on x-ray of the lungs
Which means: it indicates the presence of a well-delimited tank (containing air or fluid).
- Vascular cavities on X-ray of the lungs
What they mean: they suggest enlargement of the pulmonary vessels.
Interpretation: may indicate chronic lung or bronchial disease (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – COPD) or hypertension. It should be remembered that vascular cavities can also be found in healthy people.
- Linear non-septum shading on X-ray of the lungs
Which means: it is generally due to local fibrosis and is independent of the anatomical structures of the lung.
Interpretation: May indicate fibrosis after pneumonia or pulmonary infarction.
- Shading of frosted glass type (opal glass type) in lung X-ray
Which means: it results from the reduced aeration of the alveoli, but with a visible vascular drawing.
Interpretation: the main reasons for the frosted glass include: slight thickening of the lung interstitium, incomplete filling of the alveoli with fluid, and reduced aeration of the alveoli. The shading of the milky glass type may indicate pneumonia, alveolar bleeding or pulmonary embolism.
More about pulmonary embolism
- Interstitial changes on X-ray of the lungs
What they mean: These are changes due to abnormalities in the pulmonary parenchyma.
Interpretation: interstitial lesions often indicate sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue disease, pneumoconiosis.
X-ray pictures should be interpreted by the family doctor or the doctor ordering the examination. Remember that you can now make an appointment via the halodoctor.pl portal.
X-ray image of selected lung diseases
Selected lung diseases will be presented below along with their X-ray images. It should be borne in mind that the diagnosis of a specific disease is made after comparing the results of tests (including imaging tests such as X-rays) with the patient’s clinical condition. The test result alone does not authorize a complete diagnosis.
The X-ray image should also be supplemented with other diagnostic tests. The Diagnostyka network has prepared special test packages for women and men. These tests can speed up the diagnosis and treatment initiation.
- Lobe pneumonia
X-ray image: solid shadowing within the lobe of the lung. Depending on the extent of the disease process, it may involve the entire lung, lobe or segment (segmental pneumonia).
Read more about lobar pneumonia
- Bronchopneumonia
X-ray image: mottled shadows that tend to blend together.
Check the first symptoms of bronchopneumonia
- Viral pneumonia
X-ray image: opal glass image, speckled shadows.
How does viral pneumonia happen?
- Exudative pleurisy
X-ray image: solid shadings within the pleural cavity suggesting the presence of fluid.
What is pleurisy?
- Bronchiectasis
X-ray image: streaked shadows indicating bronchial thickening, honeycomb image, speckled shadows.
Congenital and acquired causes of bronchiectasis
- Lung cancer
X-ray image: round shadow, solid shadows, emphysema.
read more about lung cancer
- Pneumonia of the lungs
X-ray image: increased peribronchial image, nodular shadows, emphysema, honeycomb image for asbestosis.
Find out about the diagnosis and treatment of pneumoconiosis
The article is for illustrative purposes only. The correct interpretation of the test result and the final diagnosis is at the discretion of the doctor. If the test result is incomprehensible or disturbing to you, contact the doctor who ordered the test.