Opacity in the lungs and fluid. Manifestations of pneumonia: darkening of the lung

Anatomical structure lungs, their ability to be filled with air that freely transmits x-ray radiation, allows you to get, during fluoroscopy, a picture that reflects in detail everything structural elements lungs. However, darkening in the lungs on x-rays does not always reflect changes in the tissues of the lung itself, since other organs are located at the level of the lungs. chest and, consequently, the radiation beam, passing through the body, projects on the film a superimposed image of all organs and tissues falling within its range.

In this regard, if any darkened formation is detected in the image, before answering the question of what it might be, it is necessary to clearly differentiate the localization of the pathological focus (in the tissues of the chest, diaphragm, pleural cavity or, directly, in the lungs).

The main syndromes on the radiograph

On a radiographic image taken in the anterior projection, the contours of the lungs form pulmonary fields, over the entire area, intersected by symmetrical shadows of the ribs. A large shadow between the lung fields is formed by the combined superposition of the projection of the heart and main arteries. Within the contour of the lung fields, one can see the roots of the lungs located at the same level with the anterior ends of the 2nd and 4th ribs and a slight darkening of the area caused by rich vascular network located in lung tissue.

All pathological changes, reflected on the X-ray can be divided into three groups.

Blackouts

Appear in the picture, in cases where the healthy part of the lung is replaced by a pathological formation or substance, causing the air part to be replaced by denser masses. As a rule, it is observed in the following diseases:

• bronchial obstruction (atelectasis);
• accumulation of inflammatory fluid (pneumonia);
• benign or malignant degeneration of tissues (tumor process).

Change in lung pattern

• total (complete) or subtotal (almost complete) blackout;
• limited dimming;
• round (spherical) shadow;
• ring shadow;
• focal shading.

Enlightenment

Enlightenment in the picture reflects a decrease in the density and volume of soft tissues. Usually, similar phenomenon occurs when an air cavity forms in the lung (pneumothorax). Due to the specific reflection of the results of radiography on photographic paper, areas that easily transmit radiation are reflected more dark color due to the more intense action of x-rays on silver ions contained in photographic paper, areas of a denser structure have a light color. The wording "darkening" in the picture is actually reflected in the form of a light area or focus.

On the x-ray lung pattern healthy lungs

blackout syndrome

Total obscuration of the lung on an x-ray is a complete or partial obscuration (at least 2/3 of the lung field). In this case, gaps are possible in the upper or lower part of the lung. Main physiological reasons manifestations of such a syndrome are the absence of air in the lung cavity, an increase in tissue density of the entire surface of the lung, the content of fluid in the pleural cavity or any pathological contents.

Diseases that can cause a similar syndrome include:

• atelectasis;
• cirrhosis;
• exudative pleurisy;
• pneumonia.

For implementation differential diagnosis diseases, it is necessary to rely on two main signs. The first sign is to assess the location of the mediastinal organs. It can be correct or offset, usually in the direction opposite to the center of blackout. The main reference point in identifying the axis of displacement is the shadow of the heart, located for the most part to the left middle line chest, and the smaller one to the right, and the stomach, the most informative part of which is the air bubble, which is always clearly visible in the pictures.

The second feature to identify pathological condition is an estimate of the uniformity of shading. So, with uniform darkening, with a high degree of probability, atelectasis can be diagnosed, and with heterogeneous - cirrhosis. The interpretation of the results obtained using the radiographic method is integrated assessment of all visually detected pathological elements in comparison with anatomical features each individual patient.

Limited Shading Syndrome

To identify the causes of the appearance of a limited darkening of the lung field, it is necessary to take a picture in two directions - in frontal projection and lateral. Based on the results of the obtained images, it is important to assess what is the localization of the blackout focus. If the shadow on all images is inside the lung field, and converges in size with its contours or has a smaller volume, it is logical to assume that the lung is affected.

With a darkening adjacent to the wide base to the diaphragm or mediastinal organs, it is possible to diagnose extrapulmonary pathologies (liquid inclusions in the pleural cavity). Another criterion for evaluating limited blackouts is size. In this case, two options should be considered:

• The size of the darkening clearly follows the contours of the affected part of the lung, which may indicate an inflammatory process;
• Dimming size is smaller normal sizes, the affected segment of the lung, which indicates cirrhosis lung tissue or bronchial obstruction.

Of particular note are cases in which there is a blackout of normal size, in the structure of which light foci (cavities) can be traced. First of all, in this case, it is necessary to clarify whether the cavity contains liquid. To do this, take a series of pictures in various provisions patient (standing, lying or bending over) and assessing changes in the level expected upper bound liquid content. If fluid is present, a lung abscess is diagnosed, and if it is not, then the likely diagnosis is tuberculosis.

Important! The detection of several cavities with limited darkening of the lung is characteristic of pneumonia caused by staphylococcus aureus. Such a defeat is poor prognosis, and often treatment is possible only with the help of surgery.

On the x-ray, limited darkening of the lungs in two projections

round shadow syndrome

I state the syndrome of a round shadow when the spot on the lungs has a round or oval shape in two pictures taken perpendicular to each other, that is, in front and on the side. To decipher the results of radiography when a round shadow is detected, they rely on 4 signs:

• form of dimming;
• localization of darkening relative to nearby organs;
• clarity and thickness of its contours;
• the structure of the inner shadow field.

Since the shadow reflected on the picture within the lung field may actually be outside it, evaluation of the shape of the obscuration can greatly facilitate diagnosis. So, a rounded shape is characteristic of intrapulmonary formations (tumor, cyst, infiltrate filled with inflammatory contents). An oval shadow in most cases is the result of compression of a round formation by the walls of the lung.

The structure of the inner shadow field also has a high information content. If, when analyzing the results, the heterogeneity of the shadow is obvious, for example, lighter foci, then with a high degree probability, it is possible to diagnose the decay of necrotic tissue (with decaying cancer or the decay of tuberculous infiltrate) or the formation of a cavity. Darker areas may indicate partial calcification of the tuberculoma.

A clear and dense contour indicates the presence of a fibrous capsule, characteristic of an echinococcal cyst. Round shadow syndrome includes only those shadows that are more than 1 cm in diameter, shadows of a smaller diameter are considered foci.

ring shadow syndrome

An annular spot on the lung on an x-ray is the simplest syndrome to perform analysis. As a rule, an annular shadow appears on the x-ray as a result of the formation of an air-filled cavity. An obligatory condition under which the detected darkening is referred to the annular shadow syndrome is the preservation of a closed ring when taking pictures in all projections and in various positions of the patient's body. If the ring does not have a closed structure in at least one of the series of images, the shadow can be considered an optical illusion.

If a cavity is found in the lung, the uniformity and thickness of its walls should be assessed. So, with a large and uniform thickness of the contour, one can assume an inflammatory origin of the cavity, for example, a tuberculous cavity. A similar picture is observed with an abscess, when purulent fusion of tissues occurs with the removal of contents through the bronchi. However, with an abscess, the remnants of pus, most often, continue to be in the cavity and their complete removal a rather rare occurrence, so usually such a cavity is a tuberculous cavity.

Unevenly wide walls of the ring indicate the process of decay lung cancer. Necrotic processes in the tumor tissue can cause the formation of a cavity, but since necrosis develops unevenly, tumor masses remain on the inner walls of the cavity, creating the effect of an “irregularity” of the ring.

Important! The main difficulty in assessing the annular shadow is determining the localization of the formation, since in most cases a similar syndrome is observed in extrapulmonary processes (deformation of the ribs, gases in the intestines, gases in the pleural cavity).

In the picture, an annular shadow is determined in the lower lobe right lung

Focal dimming syndrome

Spots on the lungs larger than 1 mm and less than 1 cm are considered foci. On an x-ray, you can see from 1 to several foci located at a considerable distance from each other or in a group. If the area of ​​distribution of foci does not exceed 2 intercostal spaces, the lesion (dissemination) is considered limited, and when the foci are distributed on larger area- diffuse.

The main criteria for evaluating focal opacities are:

• area of ​​distribution and location of foci;
• shading contours;
• darkness intensity.

When one or more shades are located in upper divisions lung is a clear sign of tuberculosis. Many foci with limited distribution is a sign of focal pneumonia or the result of the collapse of a tuberculous cavity, which is usually located slightly higher than the detected foci. In the latter case, a round or annular shadow may also be observed in the image.

As a reason for the appearance of a single darkening in any part of the lung, first of all, consider the likelihood of developing cancer or tumor metastasis. This is also evidenced by the clear contours of the shadow. Fuzzy contours indicate an inflammatory origin of blackouts.

To assess the intensity of darkening, they are compared with the image of the vessels visualized in the picture. If the severity of the focus is inferior to the shadow of the vessel, this is a low-intensity darkening, characteristic of focal pneumonia or infiltrated tuberculosis. With medium and strong darkening of the focus, when the severity is equal to or darker than the vascular pattern, one can judge the attenuation of the tuberculous process.

Since extensive dissemination of lesions may indicate more than 100 diseases, the size of the opacities should be assessed to distinguish between causes. So, the smallest foci covering the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe lung can mean pneumoconiosis, miliary tuberculosis, or focal pneumonia.

In the picture, small-focal shading

Important! Regardless of what changes are observed on an x-ray of the lungs, the presence of a normal lung pattern, which is characterized by the presence of shadows of the vascular system, should be taken into account when analyzing the results.

In the vast majority of cases, on the basis of lung radiography, it is impossible to make a final diagnosis, since the analysis of the resulting image can only reveal a syndrome characteristic of a particular disease. If an x-ray showed a darkening of any area, then in order to clarify the diagnosis and assess the dynamics of the development of the disease, it is necessary to conduct a complex of laboratory studies and additional diagnostics using MSCT, bronchography, biopsy, etc.

It happens that an x-ray shows a darkening of the lungs in the picture. There can be both a darkening of the upper part of the lung on the x-ray, and the lower part, both on the right lung and on the left lung.
Any person, having discovered such an x-ray, will ask himself the question “What does this mean?”.

It is important to understand that this fact can be an alarming bell and warn of pathological process or painful physical condition. Darkening in the lungs on an X-ray in a child can occur for the same reasons as in an adult. The difficulty lies in the initial detection of pathology, since X-rays are rarely prescribed for children. This is due to the destructive properties of radiation, which adversely affect the human body, especially the child's body.
Any darkening of the lung on x-ray looks like White spot. It can occur for various reasons and be of different sizes.

To begin with, it is important to know that the presence of a spot does not at all mean an unambiguous sign of a disease, sometimes the formation of spots can be an error of the X-ray machine (erroneous development technology, poor film quality, etc.).

Diseases that cause blackouts:

Within radiology, there are many different classifications of opacities that can indicate different reasons appearance in both adults and children. An experienced radiologist is able to isolate a certain type of spot and determine the cause, which was the decisive factor in its appearance in the picture.

Lobar and focal shading

Blackouts on an x-ray in an adult and a child are usually divided into lobar and focal. When the shading is lobar, the outlines of the spot can be clearly seen. As a rule, such a spot is a sign chronic pathology. It can be located both on the left and on the right lung.
In the second type of blackout, the spots are quite large (up to 1 cm in diameter) and indicate the presence of an inflammatory process. Sometimes this kind of darkening is a sign of vascular pathology or cancer. The causes can also be a heart attack of the left or right lung, tuberculosis and other diseases. If there is headache and cough, this may indicate bronchopneumonia. A sign of bronchopneumonia is also pain in the upper part of the lung.
If there is thrombophlebitis and coughing up blood, then this indicates the likelihood of a heart attack of the left or right lung (depending on the location of the spot).

Classification of blackouts by shape and causes of appearance

There are blackouts of the following forms:

• Indefinite form (lack of clearly defined outlines). To establish accurate diagnosis the radiologist, as a rule, prescribes additional clinical researches(CT, urine, blood, etc.). Possible diseases may be: pneumonia, infarction of the left or right lung, hemorrhage, the presence of any tumor or pleurisy.
• Blackout liquid (tissue edema). This happens due to an increase in pressure in the vessels and the fluid from them enters the alveolar apparatus of the organ, as a result of which the proper functioning of the organ is disrupted. The cause may be a violation of the cardiovascular system.
• Segmental shading. The triangular shape of the spot most likely indicates a tumor (cancerous or benign), fluid in the pleural cavity, pneumonia or tuberculosis. To obtain a complete and plausible picture of the disease, the doctor gives a referral for tests and prescribes additional examinations.
• Focus dimming. For example, a round spot with a diameter of up to 1 centimeter can indicate pneumonia, tuberculosis or an abscess.
• Encapsulated caseous focus. Sometimes it indicates oncological disease, the presence of a lipoma or adenoma. However, for an accurate diagnosis, the patient also needs to undergo other examinations prescribed by the doctor and pass additional tests.

What to do if spots are found on an x-ray?

If you find any blackouts in the picture, do not immediately start to panic. Just listen to the doctor and take all the additional tests necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis and understand what it is.

Remember that x-rays are just an auxiliary diagnostic method that only supplements information about the patient's health status. Even the radiograph says "Conclusion", not "Diagnosis". In this regard, do not invent illnesses for yourself, but simply follow medical instructions.

Fluorography - method x-ray examination, which involves photographing the image of an object from the screen Darkening in the lungs on fluorography - what is it? This question is asked by many people whose fluorographic image is ambiguous.

An eclipse can mean a lot or nothing at the same time, so if the radiologist gave such a conclusion, you should not be nervous - because such patients are prescribed a pre-examination. Darkening on fluorography can be both a sign of pathology and simple defect on the picture.

Darkening in the lungs can be due to: pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, tumors, cancer, trauma, foreign objects, abscesses, fluid accumulation and prolonged smoking. In medicine, these are the most common causes the appearance of eclipses.

Numerical codes used in the evaluation of the fluorogram

Darkening in the picture is not necessarily a pathology

Darkening in the picture is not necessarily oncology or tuberculosis, although this, of course, can also indicate a serious pathology. In addition, an eclipse may appear in the picture when smoking cigarettes for a long time (see).

From here, it is difficult to immediately determine what the blackout in the right or left lung on fluorography could mean. Maybe a foreign object got there?

This often happens with curious children. Note that the types of eclipses are not directly related to pathologies, and the problem cannot be immediately identified by the shape of the spot.

The dark spot on the lung on fluorography is divided by number and size. Single spots indicate tumors; they can be malignant and benign.

If there is more than one darkening in the lungs on fluorography, then this indicates the presence of several pathologies. The location of the spots is also important.

So, if a lesion of the apex of the organ is visible on the darkening in the lungs on fluorography, then this may indicate tuberculosis, but the doctor must prescribe, in addition to tests, a second picture.

Deciphering a fluorography image

In the presence of blackouts, the doctor writes out the proposed diagnosis.

Strengthening of the vascular pattern

Usually the enhancement of the vascular pattern is caused by the shadow pulmonary arteries or vein. His increased appearance is a symptom of bronchitis initial stage cancer or pneumonia. Also, this may indicate shortcomings in the work of the cardiovascular system.

Compaction and expansion of the roots

Compaction and expansion of the roots are characteristic of: pneumonia, bronchitis and other, chronic and inflammatory pathologies.

Pleural sinus

The pleural sinus is a cavity that is formed by the pleural folds. The sinus is free with normal lungs, and, conversely, sealed with pulmonary pathology.

fibrous tissue

The presence of fibrous tissue indicates that the patient has already had pneumonia.

spikes

The presence of adhesions suggests that in the past a person had inflammation of the pleura.

Calcifications

Safe dense round shadows. They say that a person had contact with a sick person: or pneumonia.

In other words, that an infection got into the lungs, but it was localized and did not develop, and was isolated by deposits of calcium salts.

White is calcifications in the lungs (focus picture)

Aperture changes

Changes in the diaphragm indicate an anomaly in its sheets. Usually this pathology develops due to poor genetics, adhesions deformity, overweight, past illnesses.

Focal shadows

Focal shadows are dark spots about 1 centimeter in size. Can talk about what it is or tuberculosis disease.

Displacement of the mediastinal shadow

The mediastinum is the space between the lungs and other organs. The expansion indicates increased pressure, an increase in the size of the heart, myocarditis or CHF.

Types of dimming

Blackout in pneumonia

Pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is characterized by an acute onset, severe general condition, high temperature body, shortness of breath, cyanosis, tachycardia, signs of intoxication, focal dullness of percussion sound, crepitus, the presence of wheezing. Pneumonia can be complicated by pleurisy.

On fluorography of the chest organs, focal lesions (foci of inflammatory infiltration) are detected, in the case of abscessing, cavities with a horizontal level are found, and in the presence of exudative pleurisy, intense homogeneous blackout. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is sown from sputum, the contents of the pleural cavity, and discharge from wounds.

Darkening with paragonimiasis

The initial stage of paragonimiasis proceeds as an acute allergic disease. Detect changes in the lungs ("volatile" infiltrates, pneumonia, pleurisy).

Allergic myocarditis, meningoencephalitis is quite often observed. Basically, the initial stage of the disease is asymptomatic. With the transition to subacute, and then to chronic stage changes in the lungs predominate: chest pain, cough with sputum production, effusion in the pleural cavity, fever.

Later develop fibrotic changes in the lungs, the fluorogram reveals foci with characteristic radial shading and light vacuoles in the center, areas of infiltration in the lung tissue, calcifications, and sometimes diffuse pneumosclerosis.

Darkening with candidiasis

With a mild course of the disease, candiosis resembles the clinical picture of bronchitis. On the radiograph, an increase in the bronchovascular pattern is found. AT late dates and at severe course lung candidiasis is manifested by focal or lobar pneumonia, unstable "flying" infiltrates are possible.

On fluorography, there will be a spotted eclipse, which means small pneumonic foci, atelectasis. Sometimes there are miliary shading ("snow flakes"). Candida pneumonia can be complicated by pleurisy.

Darkening with diffuse pneumosclerosis

Peculiarities clinical course diffuse pneumosclerosis. Complaints of patients cough with sputum (as a result of concomitant bronchitis), shortness of breath, which first occurs when physical activity, later at rest and finally becomes permanent, general weakness, sometimes in case of activation of the inflammatory process, fever appears. On examination, cyanosis (as a result of hypoventilation of the alveoli), swelling of the jugular veins, shortness of breath (symptoms of pulmonary heart failure) are revealed.

The chest can be compacted, however, more often, the presence of pathological airiness is determined by expanded intercostal spaces - an emphysematous form of HA. Respiratory excursion of the lungs and the mobility of the lower pulmonary edge is limited. On percussion, as a result of concomitant emphysema, a box sound is detected.

On auscultation of the lungs, hard, sometimes weakened, vesicular breathing (with emphysema), dry and moist rales are heard. Via X-ray examination determine the increased transparency of peripheral lung fields in combination with heaviness, focal darkening and increased vascular pattern, sometimes signs of bronchiectasis.

Features of the clinical course of diffuse pneumosclerosis

A biochemical blood test reveals an increase in the content of alpha-2 and gamma globulins, fibrinogen; in urine the moderate proteinuria is noted. X-ray of the respiratory organs allows you to identify the eclipse of the corresponding segment/lobe of the lung, areas of infiltration. With gangrene of the lungs, there are pronounced signs respiratory failure and intoxication.

Blackout with fever

Complaints (remitting fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough with purulent sputum with bad smell in an amount of 200 ml to 1-2 liters per day, sweating). X-ray of the chest organs (large-focal eclipse with uneven edges and fuzzy contours - in the infiltration phase and the presence of a cavity formation syndrome with a horizontal fluid level in another period).

Darkening in Cancer

Lung cancer is more common in men over 40 who smoke a long period. Against the background of an eclipse of a part of the lungs, there is mainly enlightenment, which indicates the collapse of the lung tissue, as well as bronchogenic focal metastasis to neighboring areas.

Blackout exudative pleurisy

Very often, exudative pleurisy in the early stages of detection is considered as inflammation of the lungs, since they have many of the same signs. A small amount of fluid in the pleural cavity is often very difficult to determine from a fluorographic image.

In this case, complications are very easily solved. ultrasound lung, which determines 150-200 ml of effusion in the pleural cavity. In addition, exudative pleurisy is characterized by a specific cough with the release of mucous and purulent sputum.

Darkening in the lungs on a fluorography picture - what is it? This question is asked by many patients in whom the results of fluorography are ambiguous.

Darkening can mean anything, so if the radiologist issued such a conclusion, you should not panic - most likely, you will be prescribed an additional examination.

Darkening in the picture can be either a sign of an incipient disease or a common defect on the film.

Darkening in the lungs may be due to:

• inflammation;
• bronchitis;
• tuberculosis;
• tumors, including cancer;
• injuries;
• ingress of foreign bodies;
• abscesses;
• fluid accumulations;
• smoking.

AT medical practice these are the most common causes of blackouts. Among them are life-threatening diseases for the patient and his environment.

Therefore, if a blackout is found on fluorography, then this is always a reason to start a more detailed examination using other diagnostic methods.

Darkening in the lungs, found on fluorography, speaks of disorders both in the lungs themselves and in adjacent areas.

The spot may turn out to be an enlarged lymph node, a formation on the rib, vertebrae, an expansion of the esophagus.

The shape and location of the blackout

A single spot in the picture indicates a tumor. Multiple spots - about inflammation, tuberculosis, accumulation of fluid and the presence of tumors in other organs.

If the darkening is in the apex of the lung, then tuberculosis can be assumed. A spot with blurred borders indicates pneumonia, especially if the subject has weakness, high fever.

But in some cases, pneumonia occurs without fever. A certain geometric shape of the spot can tell the doctor that the patient has pulmonary infarction, hemorrhage.

Lungs of a smoker on fluorography

Smokers are at risk for lung diseases. For a year of smoking, about a glass of poisonous resins settles on the tissue of this organ.

Smokers more than others need an annual fluorographic examination.

Changes in lung tissue in a smoker occur quickly, but, as a rule, they are not displayed on fluorography.

Fluorography helps to identify not the fact of smoking, but neoplasms resulting from this bad habit.

How smoking affects the lungs is clearly shown by another examination - x-ray.

An X-ray shows strikingly how different the organs are. healthy person and a smoker.

The lungs of a non-smoker in the picture will be of a light uniform color, since they are filled with air, you can clearly distinguish the pattern blood vessels. Smoker's lungs are covered with dark spots.

What does the darkening look like in the picture?

Blackouts in the lungs can be of different sizes and shapes, located anywhere in the lung. Accepted next classification blackouts.

Focal darkening of the lungs on fluorography - they look in the picture as nodular spots with a diameter of less than a centimeter. They appear as a result of tumor processes, vascular disorders.

This type of dimming may well be serious illness, but a fluorographic picture does not give the doctor the opportunity to make an accurate diagnosis.

Focal dimming, accompanied by high fever, general weakness, cough, may indicate focal tuberculosis- specialized studies are assigned to identify it.

To clarify the diagnosis, the patient is sent for a more informative examination: computed tomography.

You will need to undergo laboratory tests: pass sputum, blood, urine.

Focal blackout also appears with such a rare disease as a lung infarction, in which hemoptysis is possible.

In addition, pulmonary infarction is accompanied by inflammation of the veins of the legs, heart pain, pain in the side.

Round darkening of the lungs are round-shaped single spots, the diameter of which is more than a centimeter. These spots in the picture can mean both the inflammatory process and the presence of tumors (both benign and malignant).

It is for this reason that if there are rounded shadows in the picture, the doctor will definitely prescribe additional procedures.

Segmental darkening of the lungs on fluorography - in this case, the spots in the picture have triangular shape, there may be several.

Causes of segmental darkening of the lung or lungs - endobronchial tumor, presence foreign body, trauma.

If there are several darkened segments, then this is a sign of pneumonia, tuberculosis, central cancer, narrowing of the central bronchus, metastasis.

Shapeless darkening of the lungs on fluorography - they look like spots without clear boundaries, not having the correct geometric shape.

They talk most often about staphylococcal or ordinary pneumonia. Staphylococcal pneumonia has a primary and secondary form.
A photo:

Primary appears due to inflammatory processes in tissues, secondary - when entering purulent focus into the body (this can occur with osteomyelitis, adnexitis).

staphylococcal pneumonia in recent times occurs more frequently than usual.

Also, darkening in an indefinite form can talk about exudative pleurisy. In all these cases, the patient will fever, cough, weakness.

Darkening of the lobe of the lungs on fluorography is when the affected lobe is clearly visible in the picture, has clear contours.

Darkening of the lobe of the lung is a sign of any "chronicle" in the lungs: cirrhosis, purulent lesions, bronchiectasis.

Darkening with liquid on fluorography - indicates pulmonary edema that occurs with ischemia, poisoning with certain toxins, with vascular diseases.

If, after visiting the fluorography room, you were stamped and let go home in peace, this means that no pathology was found, because otherwise the office worker is obliged to notify the patient or his local doctor about the need for an in-depth check.

Fluorogram interpretation and other methods

After visiting the fluorography room, the patient receives a picture and its interpretation.

The following information may be included in the captions for the image:

• an increase in the roots - indicates bronchitis, pneumonia;
• stringy roots - pathological changes due to smoking, bronchitis;
• in-depth drawing of blood vessels - indicates a violation of blood circulation in the lungs, problems with the heart and cardiovascular system, bronchitis and pneumonia, the initial stage of oncology;
• fibrous tissue - a trace of previously transferred diseases, operations, injuries;
• focal shadows - this is actually blackouts. If the shadows are accompanied by an increase in the vascular pattern, then this indicates pneumonia;
• calcifications - indicate that there was contact with a tuberculosis patient, but a healthy body enclosed the bacillus in a calcium "shell" and no further spread of the infection occurred;
• changes in the diaphragm - the consequences of obesity, pleurisy, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• sinus - in healthy lungs, pleural folds form air cavities; in patients, these cavities are filled with fluid or are in a sticky state.

The spots on the image may indicate several dozen diseases, so it is necessary to continue the examination.

For additional examination, the doctor sends the patient to a pulmonologist and oncologist, where he will have to undergo specific procedures.

Diaskintest - a method for diagnosing tuberculosis. Unlike the Mantoux test, which very often shows erroneous result, Diaskintest does not respond to BCG and makes it much more accurate to diagnose tuberculosis.

Sputum tests - laboratory study of sputum. Detects tuberculosis bacteria, malignant cells, various impurities characteristic of certain pathological conditions.

Computed tomography of the lungs - optional, but informative method diagnosis of diseases of the lung tissue, pleura and mediastinum.

Diagnostic or tracheobronchoscopy - performed using flexible endoscopes that are inserted through the nose.

Before the procedure, a chest x-ray is taken to rule out airway obstruction.

The examination allows not only to see the lungs, but also to take the material (it is absolutely painless).

The material is further subjected to histological, cytological, bacterial examination.

A blood test for tumor markers is an auxiliary method for diagnosing cancer, it allows you to identify specific proteins in the blood that are produced by malignant tumor cells.

Blood is taken from a vein, on an empty stomach. The number of tumor markers increases not only in cancer, but also in a number of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

When deciphering fluorography, there are errors, but the method itself cannot be called ineffective. With the help of fluorography, such formidable diseases as tuberculosis and lung cancer are diagnosed.

This is a quick and inexpensive way that can be used for medical examination of the population.

Often, only thanks to him it is possible to identify new cases of tuberculosis infection and start treating the patient in time.

Everyone Russian citizen knows that the annual passage of preventive medical examinations compulsory procedure. One of the most important surveys - which allows you to detect various diseases in the early stages of their development. Alarming bells for doctors is the pathological darkening of these organs.

Darkening in the picture of the lungs.

There are many reasons that lead to the occurrence of such blackouts, therefore, in order to determine them as correctly as possible, experts do not disdain other examinations.

After all, certain blackouts are just an indicator that inflammation (of any nature) occurs in the body. Why is there a blackout in the picture? To answer this question, you need to carefully study this topic.

Key Features

In most situations, pulmonary diseases are accompanied by the appearance of seals. Such problems occur due to a decrease in diameter or blockage of the air passages at specific places on the surface of the lung, and radiologists see dark spots on the fluorogram.

Symptoms this kind are confirmation of the occurrence or development of pathologies in the lungs themselves or surrounding cells.

Shadows indicating pulmonary diseases often have different intensity, clarity and dimensions. Such areas are confirmation of the following health problems:

• Inflammation and tissue seals;
• nodular neoplasms (tumors);
• clogged air passages;
• development of tuberculosis processes;
• filling with fluid the pleura of the lung (the layer of membrane that covers and protects each organ in the sternum);
• inflammation of the pleura;
• pustular abscesses.

Fluorographic images often contain dark spots, which appear due to defects in any organ behind the ribs. Such symptoms are confirmation of such problems:

1. Enlarged lymph nodes.
2. Tumors on the vertebrae/ribs.
3. Diseases of the esophagus, etc.

Varieties and description of dark spots

The way the shadows are located, their dimensions and geometry are strongly influenced by the type of pathological damage to the tissues of the respiratory system. Based on this, all dark spots on fluorograms can be:

• Focal;
• formless;
• focal;
• liquid;
• segmental;
• share type.

Consider in detail each type of such shadows.

Focal shadows

This type of dark spots is a small nodular area up to 10 mm in size. Usually their manifestation is carried out in case of any inflammation or problems with blood vessels. Such blackouts are often a sign of the onset of the development of any pulmonary disease.

On the basis of a single fluorogram, it is impossible to determine exactly what the causes of the appearance of foci and their nature are, therefore, doctors always prescribe patients to undergo an additional CT scan or radiography. It is also desirable to laboratory tests, during which the indicators and content of the mucosa, urine and are examined.

In situations where, when focal blackouts are detected, the patient has an elevated temperature, general malaise of the body, headache, incessant coughing attacks, severe pain in the sternum, there is a high probability of bronchopneumonia.

Focal shadow on the lung x-ray, which indicates internal bleeding.

When the results of a blood test do not confirm the presence of any abnormalities, development is possible.

The main causes of this disease are decreased appetite, malaise, causeless dry cough, frequent irritability, strong pain in the chest. In case of suspicion of this diagnosis, doctors prescribe a series of studies.

Another common disease with focal blackouts is a pulmonary infarction, in which thrombophlebitis on the legs, pathologies of the heart muscle, are manifested. The last problem that can be discussed in the presence of a focal shadow on a fluorographic image is peripheral cancer.

Single cases of a focal shadow on a fluorogram have round shape, and their size often exceeds 10-12 mm. Such darkening in the lungs is considered a sign of inflammation, which manifests itself due to the occurrence of this kind of disease:

• Inflammation of the lung;
• local effusions (water channels expand in the lungs);
• eosinophilic infiltrates - this disease is accompanied by mechanical lesions of the lungs, bronchial asthma;
• abscesses.

Focus shadow in the photo.

One of the rarest causes of such shadows on fluorograms is the use of highly targeted potent drugs. medications, the presence of acquired or congenital cysts that are filled with fluids / gases.

This type of darkening can also indicate problems with tumors:

• Benign (fibroma, adenoma, lipoma, hamartochondroma);
• malignant (metastasis, sarcoma).

Often round dark spots confirm the presence calluses caused by broken ribs. Doctors must take this fact into account when deciphering film fluorograms.

Segmental spots

Dark spots on fluorograms can be distributed as separate segments of any diameter/shape (usually triangular). Up to 10 such blackouts can be located on the lung, and doctors make the diagnosis of diseases on the basis of a comprehensive check. The appearance of single spots on the lung is usually considered a symptom of the following diseases:

• Endobronchial tumor;
• foreign bodies, mechanical damage lung tissues.

In the case of a clear view of several dark areas on film fluorograms, we can talk about the following problems:

• Chronic inflammation of the lungs or acute form this disease;
• tuberculosis inflammation;
• centralized oncology;
• central bronchial constrictions;
• concentration in one place of the pleural tissues of any liquids;
• malignant metastases.

Shapeless spots

On fluorograms, there are often dark spots that are not related to other species in shape. Usually their appearance is not similar to certain geometric shapes, while there are no clear boundaries of shadows. In most cases, such pathologies of the lungs confirm the symptoms. staphylococcal pneumonia. This problem can develop in the following forms:

1. Primary. Such a disease manifests itself in the presence of inflammation in the lung / bronchus.
2. Secondary. This form develops as a result of hematogenous infection from a purulent focus (due to osteomyelitis, adnexitis, or other similar diseases). In the last decade, the secondary form of staphylococcal pneumonia has spread much faster, so people need to have a chest x-ray every year to detect this disease at an early stage.

Dark spots of this kind can often occur due to edema of the lung tissues, pulmonary effusions of blood, tumor-like neoplasms, concentration of fluids inside the pleura in one place and the presence of another disease that can be accurately determined using laboratory research. In the case of such diseases, patients often have a fever, cough, malaise, and headaches.

Shared shadows

In the case of lobar obscurations in the lungs, their contours are clearly visible on the fluorogram images. They usually differ in shape by their convexity, concavity, straightness, etc. Lobar darkened spots usually confirm that people have any chronic pulmonary diseases that are easily determined using computed tomography.

Most often, the lobar spot is a confirmation of the development of cirrhosis, bronchiectasis, the appearance purulent cavity. Any of these pathologies on a CT scan is very different from a cancerous tumor, so it is only necessary to accurately determine malignant neoplasms if a person has bronchial obstruction due to inflammatory or scar formations.

Shaded areas filled with liquids

The picture shows fluid in the lungs.

This type of darkening in the lungs on fluorograms usually indicates developing edema. Such problems may arise due to high blood pressure inside pulmonary vessels or due to a decrease in the content of proteins in the blood. The presence of fluid in the lungs is an obstacle to the proper functioning of this organ.

Pulmonary edema is:

• hydrostatic. These problems arise due to high pressure in the blood vessels, so the fluid leaves the bloodstream and penetrates into the alveolar areas (the extreme points of the respiratory system), gradually filling the lung. This pathology most often occurs due to ischemia or other chronic problems of the heart muscle.
• Membraneous. The reason for the occurrence of these edema - strong impact toxic substances that violate the membrane of the alveoli, after which they exit the blood vessels of the lung.

The correctness of diagnosis is strongly influenced by the qualification level, practical skills and theoretical knowledge of radiologists who study and describe fluorograms.

Highly important role plays and equipment with which X-ray examination is done. It is for this reason that it is advisable to contact reliable clinics, where real professionals and experts in their field work, recognizing each type of blackout in the lungs.