Respiratory Distress Syndrome Imaging | hyaline membrane disease radiology
Inrespiratorydistresssyndrome(RDS),theclassicchestradiographicfindingsconsistofpronouncedhypoaeration,bilateralfinegranularopacitiesinthepulmonaryparenchyma,andperipherallyextendingairbronchograms.TheradiologicspectrumofRDSrangesfrommildtosevereandisgenerallycorrelatedwiththeseverityoftheclinicalfindings.Intheearlystagesofthedisease,notableairbronchogramsarelacking,becausethemajorbronchilieinthemoreanteriorportionsofthelungsandbecausealveolaratelectasistendstoinvolvethedependentareasofthelun...
In respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), the classic chest radiographic findings consist of pronounced hypoaeration, bilateral fine granular opacities in the pulmonary parenchyma, and peripherally extending air bronchograms.
The radiologic spectrum of RDS ranges from mild to severe and is generally correlated with the severity of the clinical findings. In the early stages of the disease, notable air bronchograms are lacking, because the major bronchi lie in the more anterior portions of the lungs and because alveolar atelectasis tends to involve the dependent areas of the lungs, which are posterior in recumbent infants. However, a bubble appearance, which represents overdistended bronchioles and alveolar ducts, can be observed. (See the image below.)
Classic respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Bell-shaped thorax is due to generalized underaeration. Lung volume is reduced, ...