Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chest x ray
Introduction
Overview
Overview
On chest x-ray, the classic signs of COPD are overexpanded lung (hyperinflation), a flattened diaphragm, increased retrosternal airspace, and bullae. It can be useful to help exclude other lung diseases, such as pneumonia, pulmonary edema or a pneumothorax.
Chest X Ray
Chest X Ray
Chest Xray may reveal the following findings in the patients with COPD.[1]
Images shown below are courtesy of RadsWiki
Emphysema
- Signs of hyperinflation such as flattening of diaphragm
- Increased retrosternal space
- Hypovascularity
- Long, narrow heart shadow
Patient #1: Paraseptal Emphysema
Patient #2: Paraseptal Emphysema
Chronic Bronchitis
- Increased bronchovascular markings
- Cardiomegaly
- Right ventricular enlargement, prominent hilar vascular shadows, opacity in retrosternal air spaces (pulmonary hypertension)
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]