Infant with respiratory distress

CXR of viral pneumonia — CXR PA (left) and lateral (right) shows thickening of the airways centrally and hyperexpansion of the lungs bilaterally leading to flattening of the diaphragm.

The diagnosis was viral pneumonia.

School ager with fever and worsening cough

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in the lateral aspect of the right middle lobe — CXR PA (left) shows an opacity in the lateral aspect of the right middle lobe which on the CXR lateral (right) projects over the heart.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the lateral aspect of the right middle lobe.

Infant with cough who is hypoxemic

CXR of respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia — CXR AP shows central airway thickening and bilateral lung hyperinflation causing flattening of the diaphragm. There is also a small right apical pneumonthorax.

The diagnosis was respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia.

Toddler with hypoxia

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in the lingula — CXR PA (left) shows a faint opacity in the lingula lateral to the heart while CXR lateral (right) shows the opacity to be located over the heart.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the lingula.

Toddler with respiratory distress

CXR of respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia and superinfection with community acquired bacterial pneumonia — CXR PA (left) shows central airway thickening and mild lung hyperinflation with a dense opacity in the right upper lobe and a dense opacity in the left lower lobe which is obscuring the left hemidiaphragm (silhouette sign). The lateral radiograph (right) shows dense opacities over the upper spine and over the lower spine (spine sign).

The diagnosis was respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia and superinfection with community acquired bacterial pneumonia.

School ager with fever and vomiting

CXR of bacterial pneumonia of the left lower lobe — CXR PA (left) shows a dense opacity overlying the heart and obscuring the medial aspect of the left hemidiaphragm (silhouette sign) while the lateral radiograph (right) shows dense opacity over the lower aspect of the spine (spine sign).

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the posterior left lower lobe.

Toddler whose parents both have chronic coughs

CXR of pulmonary tuberculosis — CXR AP shows bilateral hilar adenopathy, right greater than left, and a faint right lower lobe infiltrate.

The diagnosis was tuberculosis pneumonia.

Teenager with a productive cough and fever

CXR of right upper lobe bacterial pneumonia — CXR PA (left) shows a dense opacity in the right upper lobe which is located superiorly on the CXR lateral (right).

The diagnosis was right upper lobe bacterial pneumonia.

School ager with cough and fever

CXR of left lower lobe bacterial pneumonia — CXR PA (left) shows a faint opacity in the left lower lung that is obscuring the left hemidiaphragm (silhouette sign) and this opacity is seen just anterior to the lower spine on the lateral radiograph (right).

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the left lower lobe.

School ager with cough and shortness of breath

CXR of right middle lobe bacterial pneumonia — CXR PA (left) shows dense opacity throughout the right middle lobe which is obscuring the right heart border (silhouette sign). CXR lateral (right) shows the opacity located over the heart.

The diagnosis was right middle lobe bacterial pneumonia.

School ager with fever and cough for 1 week

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in the lingula — CXR PA (left) shows an opacity in the lingula that is obscuring the left heart border (silhouette sign) which on the CXR lateral (right) is seen to be projecting over the heart.

The diagnosis was lingular bacterial pneumonia.

School ager with fever and left chest pain

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in left lower lobe — CXR PA (left) shows a dense opacity over the heart obscuring the medial aspect of the left hemidiaphragm (silhouette sign) while the CXR lateral (right) shows the opacity is located posteriorly over the lower thoracic spine (spine sign).

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the posterior aspect of the left lower lobe.

Preschooler with cough and fever

CXR of bacterial pneumonia of the left lower lobe — CXR PA (left) shows a retrocardiac opacity which on the CXR lateral (right) is seen to be located over the lower spine resulting in a spine sign.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the posterior left lower lobe.

School ager with cough and fever

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in the lingula — CXR PA (left) shows an opacity in the left mid lung that is obscuring the left heart border while on the CXR lateral (right) the opacity is seen to overlie the heart.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the lingula.

Toddler with sickle cell disease and fever

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in right upper lobe — CXR PA (left) shows an opacity in the right upper lobe which on the CXR lateral (right) is seen to be located posteriorly causing a spine sign.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe in a patient with sickle cell disease. The organism was bacillus non-anthrax.

Teenager with fever and hemoptysis

CXR and CT of bacterial pneumonia in the left lower lobe — CXR PA (above left) shows an opacity in the medial left lower lobe that obscures the medial left hemidiaphragm. CXR lateral (above right) shows a spine sign over the lower thoracic vertebral bodies. Axial CT without contrast of the chest (below left) shows a dense infiltrate in the posterior aspect of the left lower lobe while the sagittal CT (below right) again shows the infiltrate to be located inferiorly and posteriorly in the chest.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the posterior left lower lobe.

School ager with upper respiratory infection and decreased right breath sounds

CXR of bacterial pneumonia of right middle lobe — CXR PA (left) shows a dense opacity in the middle of the right lung that obscures the right heart border which on the CXR lateral (right) is located over the heart.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia of the medial segment of the right middle lobe.

School ager with fever and cough

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in right middle lobe — CXR PA (left) shows dense opacity in the lateral aspect of the right mid-lung. CXR lateral (right) shows the opacity to be located in the right middle lobe.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the lateral segment of the right middle lobe.

School ager with cough and fever

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in left upper lobe — CXR PA (above left) shows an opacity in the left lung that obscures the left mediastinum and left heart border which on the CXR lateral (above right) is seen to be located in the upper lung. Coronal (below left) and sagittal (below right) CT without contrast of the chest better localizes the opacities in the left upper lung.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia of the left upper lobe.

Preschooler with leukemia who is febrile

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in right upper lobe — CXR PA (left) shows a triangular dense opacity in the lateral aspect of the right upper lobe that on the CXR lateral (right) is seen to be posterior in location.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe.

Teenager with cough and fever

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in the lingula — CXR AP (left) shows dense opacity in the lower left lung that is obscuring the left heart border and causing a silhouette sign. CXR lateral (right) shows a dense triangular opacity anterior over the heart.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the lingula.

School ager with cough and fever

CXR of bacterial pneumonia in the lingula — CXR AP (left) shows dense opacity in the lower left lung that is obscuring the left heart border and causes a silhouette sign. CXR lateral (right) shows a dense oval opacity anterior over the heart.

The diagnosis was bacterial pneumonia in the lingula.

Premature newborn with respiratory distress

CXR of asymmetrical distribution of artificial surfactant in a patient with respiratory distress syndrome — Initial CXR AP (left) shows the lungs to be bilaterally hypoexpanded and to have symmetrical ground glass opacity present throughout them. CXR AP obtained 4 hours after the administration of artificial surfactant (right) shows interval clearing of ground glass opacity from the right lung which is now normally expanded. The left lung remains hypoexpanded and has ground glass opacity throughout it.

The diagnosis was asymmetrical distribution of artificial surfactant into primarily the right lung in a patient with respiratory distress syndrome.

Premature newborn with respiratory distress

CXR of symmetrical distribution of artificial surfactant in a patient with respiratory distress syndrome — CXR AP obtained just after birth (above left) shows the lungs bilaterally to be relatively clear and hypoexpanded. CXR obtained 4 hours later after intubation (above right) shows interval development of bilateral symmetrical ground glass opacity in the lungs which remain hypoexpanded. CXR obtained 4 hours after the administration of artificial surfactant (below) shows the lungs now to be normally expanded and to be clear of the previously seen ground glass opacities.

The diagnosis was respiratory distress syndrome before and after the symmetrical administration of artificial surfactant.

Term newborn with respiratory distress

CXR of respiratory distress syndrome in a term infant due to congenital absence of surfactant — CXR AP shows low lung volumes and symmetrical ground glass opacity throughout both lungs.

The diagnosis was respiratory distress syndrome in a term infant due to congenital inability to produce surfactant.