Darkening on an x-ray. What does a lung x-ray show? Competent interpretation of lung x-rays

Using fluorography, for example, foreign bodies of any type and origin are well diagnosed; in addition, using fluorography, the presence of fluid or air accumulations in the lungs, bronchi and blood vessels is recognized. Various types of inflammation, tumor cysts and sclerosis or fibrosis, which are signs of previous lung diseases of some severity, are also easily recognized.

Most often, doubts about a person’s health in a radiologist can cause various thickenings connective tissue in the form of scars, fibrosis, malignant neoplasms, and other abnormal manifestations. These tissue thickenings appear as dark spots on the image.

Thickened walls of blood vessels and bronchi are a common cause of thickening of connective tissue, but this is a relatively harmless phenomenon that can be caused by hypertension, or bronchial asthma. Then a referral for treatment from a specialist doctor is still issued.

The accumulation of fluid in lung cells is also visible as a change in density. This is evidence of the presence of a cyst or abscess. This is a more serious diagnosis and the attitude towards it is more attentive.

It’s even worse when obvious local compactions are detected in the lungs. It is possible to have cancer cells. Of course, not in all cases, compaction of the pulmonary alveoli indicates cancer. Sometimes these are abscesses, cysts, infiltrates and others pathological changes. Accurate diagnosis placed later together with the results of additional examinations of the patient.

Dark spots, determined by fluorographic studies, doctors often refer to diseases respiratory system, in particular, . This is one of the most common chronic illnesses, which affects people of all ages.

Dark spots - diagnosis of tuberculosis

Several methods are used to diagnose tuberculosis, but fluorography is the fastest and most accurate. A dark spot on the lungs is much more informative than a simple analysis, and identifying the lesion allows you to prescribe the optimal treatment regimen, but positive results are possible only with an integrated approach.

Additional symptoms that are taken into account when determining tuberculosis are the patient’s well-being. In the case of tuberculosis, one feels fatigue, excessive sweating, and a dry cough, but a more obvious sign is a cough with hemoptysis, and a rising temperature in the evening.

The effectiveness of fluorographic examination has long been proven by many years of experience in recognizing and treating various organ diseases chest, here the main weapon is precisely fluorography.

Many patients whose disease was detected at an early stage using fluorography realized their chance of salvation.

Therefore, one should not take lightly the obligation of citizens to regularly undergo fluorography, especially since this obligation is enshrined in law.

Darkening in the lungs - possible causes

Preventive medical examinations must be completed annually. One of the mandatory activities of a periodic medical examination is a fluorographic examination of the lungs - this is done for early detection diseases. An alarming signal will be pathological darkening in the lungs. The reasons for such manifestations may be different, and in order to identify them accurately, the doctor will definitely prescribe an additional examination. The symptom of darkening of the lungs established during fluorography is not a diagnosis of the disease, but an indicator of the presence of a variety of diseases.

Darkening in the lungs x-ray

What is darkening of the lungs?

Pulmonary diseases are mainly accompanied by compactions in the tissues of the lungs; this occurs due to a decrease or absence of air permeability in certain areas of the organ, which appears on X-ray examination as darkened spots. Similar symptom may indicate pathological processes both in the lung itself and beyond.

Image of the bronchi. At in good condition bronchi, their image can be obtained rarely and only on radiographs taken from lean subjects, and the shadows from them are obtained in the form of contoured, more or less narrow stripes with a light gap between them. This image is obtained by projecting the rays perpendicular to the lumen of the bronchus; if the rays outlining the bronchus lie more or less parallel to its lumen, then the image is drawn in the form of a light circle with a dark ring-shaped rim.

When examining the image of the bronchi on an x-ray, we must not forget about the summation of the shadows, since two shadows covering each other from two tissues that are identical and different in density are added together and give a darker darkening in density. Arteries and veins are adjacent to the bronchi on both sides. The shadow of the vessel may disappear at the place where the projection coincides with the projection of the bronchial lumen, and intensify when it coincides with the shadow of the bronchial wall.

IN Lately great importance To diagnose certain diseases of the bronchi (especially bronchiectasis) and lungs, he acquired the method of bronchography, i.e., radiography after the introduction of a contrast agent indifferent to the body (lipiodol, etc.) into the trachea and bronchi. These substances are usually injected under the control of a laryngoscopic speculum into the trachea after preliminary cocaine anesthesia. The injected contrast agent is subsequently partly absorbed (iodipine, lipiodol) and partly expectorated.

Image of the lungs. The lungs on the x-ray and the screen are drawn in the form of two bright fields, covered, as it were, with a cage of intersecting ribs. The light appearance of the lungs is due to the content of air in them, which, like other gases, transmits more rays than liquid and solid bodies.

X-ray image of pneumonia: darkening in the lung (upper lobe of the right lung).

Primary pneumonia develops more often, of which focal pneumonia is more common.

3. Hypoventilation of lung tissue: reduction in the volume of a segment, lobe of the lung; strengthening of the vascular pattern, the appearance of a spotty character of shadows against its background, a gradual increase in their number and size, the merging of these shadows into larger areas of darkening. This radiological symptom central cancer lungs is observed with partial bronchial stenosis (Fig. 42).

Rice. 42. Central cancer of the left lung with hypoventilation of the upper lobe, throughout which there is a noticeable enhancement of the pattern and areas of inhomogeneous darkening; in the left root there are enlarged lymph nodes.

6. Calcium metabolism disorder– excess calcium is deposited in various organs, including in the lungs (for example, with collagenosis). In this case, multiple calcifications are detected throughout all fields of the lungs.
What do calcifications look like on radiographs?

Calcification in the lung – this is a small (up to 1 cm) darkening area, has an intensity bone tissue, appear as intense white dots on an x-ray. Calcifications can be single or multiple (more than 3-4).

Signs of calcifications after tuberculosis:

• the presence of calcifications in the root of the lung (in the intrathoracic lymph nodes) and/or in the lung tissue;
• single calcifications;
• no signs active tuberculosis lungs and other organs;
• positive Mantoux and Diaskintest test;
• presence of contacts with tuberculosis patients in the past and other risk factors for tuberculosis.

Calcifications resulting from spontaneously cured tuberculosis contain dormant tuberculosis bacilli, which, with decreased immunity or lack of calcium in the body, can be activated and cause an active tuberculosis process. Such calcifications are especially dangerous for children; they are a kind of “powder keg” that can go off at any time (for example, in adolescence). Moreover, such a relapse of tuberculosis is difficult, often in the form of a widespread and/or extrapulmonary process. Therefore, it is very important for such children to undergo a course of preventive treatment in order to reduce the risk of developing active tuberculosis in the future, as well as to control the condition of calcifications X-ray method 1-2 times a year.
What to do if calcification is detected in the lung?

• For children and teenagers – mandatory consultation with a phthisiatrician to exclude active tuberculosis and undergo preventive treatment.
• For adults you can do nothing if there are no symptoms of the disease and signs of active tuberculosis in the body, and in the case presence of HIV infection A course of isoniazid prophylaxis is recommended.
• In some cases, additional examination is necessary: computed tomography, bronchoscopy, sputum analysis, Mantoux test, blood test for antibodies to worms, and so on.

During a preventive examination of a child not vaccinated with BCG, age 1 year, regarding tuberculosis contact with an uncle, radiographs and computed tomography Calcifications were detected in the right lung. Phthisiatrician was appointed preventive treatment regarding spontaneously cured tuberculosis, which the mother refused.

Photo : computed tomography (CT) slice of the lungs of a 1-year-old child. Diagnosis: spontaneous cure of the primary tuberculosis complex with residual changes in the form of calcifications.

After 1.5 years, at the age of 2.5 years, the boy entered children's department, the mother complained that the child stopped walking, became restless, refused to eat, lost weight, and began to have a fever. An X-ray of the hip joints revealed almost complete destruction of the left hip joint. The mother did not report a “tuberculosis history” to the orthopedic doctors; the child was operated on by surgeons for osteomyelitis; upon examination of the postoperative material, bone tuberculosis was revealed. While we were waiting for histology results, the child’s condition sharply worsened, the child developed tuberculous meningoencephalitis, tuberculosis was subsequently diagnosed lymph nodes and bronchi.

Photo: CT scan of the head of a 2.5 year old child. The diagnosis is tuberculous meningoencephalitis.

X-ray of the hip joints of the same child . Diagnosis: tuberculosis of the right hip joint with its complete destruction.
This is how ordinary calcification in the lung without treatment led to the development of severe disseminated tuberculosis in the baby. The child survived and was cured, but remained disabled for life.

The root of the lung is changed and expanded, what could it be?

X-rays detect smokers by indirect signs: strengthening and deformation of the pulmonary pattern, accumulation of calcifications in the roots.

Indirect signs of disease in the image do not at all mean the presence of pathology. To establish a diagnosis, a comprehensive analysis of the results of clinical diagnostic research methods is necessary.

As a result, a chest x-ray is performed after other examinations. This approach is also used for radiation safety patient, because sometimes obtaining the results of other research methods eliminates the need for an x-ray examination.

What does the radiologist find in the image?

Professional interpretation of images involves using many specialized terms. As a result, the protocol of a specialist’s conclusion is very difficult for an ordinary person to understand.

A round dark spot is observed on an image of the lungs with an hydatid cyst. True, around the formation there is a clear white outline formed by the wall of the cyst.

Emphysema (increased airiness of the alveoli) is manifested by total clearing on both sides. With a local emphysematous bulla, the dark spot is limited to several ribs or a segment.

X-ray diagnosis of this syndrome is not difficult for radiologists who practical activities We've seen a lot of chest X-rays.

How dangerous is darkening or clearing in the lungs?

As noted above, the localization factor of the process is not important in the differential diagnosis of cancer and tuberculosis. The tumor node can be located in any lung segment. True, as with central cancer, there is a slight predominance of frequency in the upper lobes.

Despite the noted difficulties, a general x-ray examination, including images and tomography taking into account clinical data, in at least 80% of cases allows us to establish the correct diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer. Doubts remain in those rare cases when tuberculosis and cancer have an atypical picture. Insurmountable difficulties arise in cases where peripheral cancer has the appearance of a solitary node of a rounded shape of a homogeneous structure with clear contours, located against the background of unchanged surrounding lung tissue with complete absence clinical manifestations. General X-ray examination in such cases is ineffective in differentiating peripheral cancer, tuberculoma, benign tumor or cyst. In these cases, the program of additional examination of the patient is completed by percutaneous transthoracic and endoscopic transbronchial puncture.

Peripheral cancer disintegrates quite often. In some cases, the tumor disintegrates completely, taking on the appearance of a thin-walled cystic formation. And yet, with a thorough tomographic examination, especially computed tomography, it is possible to detect the remains of tumor tissue in the form of an uneven thickening of the wall of such a cyst, and tissue detritus and sequesters can be seen in the cavity itself.

Pancoast cancer is a type of peripheral cancer. This is cancer of the apex of the lung that spreads to the chest. This form is characterized by infiltrative growth, destruction of ribs, appearance sharp pain in the arm and Horner’s triad (miosis, ptosis and enophthalmos), caused by involvement of the cervicobrachial nerve plexus in the process, cervicothoracic region sympathetic trunk and large vessels.

Bronchioloalveolar cancer (pulmonary adenomatosis) is observed in approximately 5% of all patients operated on for lung cancer. Many questions related to the nature of this disease are unknown. The histological picture and clinical and radiological manifestations of this disease have been well studied. It is generally accepted that bronchioloalveolar cancer arises from the epithelium of the alveoli or bronchioles. The histological picture is characterized by the formation of papillomatous structures spreading inside the lumen bronchial tree to more or less extensive areas of the lung without destroying the interalveolar and interlobular septa. The tumor has a slow growth rate: the average time to double its volume is 350-500 days. In some cases, the tumor does not show growth dynamics for several years.

There are no clinical manifestations of bronchioloalveolar cancer in the early stages of development. As the process progresses, cough with sputum, shortness of breath, fever, and weakness appear. The most characteristic, although rare, sign of bronchioloalveolar cancer is the discharge large quantity foamy mucous-watery sputum.

heterogeneous triangular shadow in the upper lobe of the right lung. the interlobar pleura is involved in the process. there is an increase in the pulmonary pattern.

Name:

Sent:

Plotnitskaya E.V.
30 gr. 3rd year LF
Restricted shading syndrome.
The shadow is uniform. This is infiltration without decay.
Consequently, focal right-sided pneumonia.

Name:

Sent:

Buzhan Daria LF 30 group
A plain chest radiograph shows limited shading in the area of ​​the upper lobe of the right lung with unclear contours, but a homogeneous structure. This picture is typical for focal pneumonia.

Name:

Sent:

The diagnosis is made based on

– Complaints: cough with difficult to clear
sputum that occurs in the morning general weakness, increased sweating at night,
inspiratory shortness of breath that occurs when walking

– History – registered with the PTD since 2004
of the year

– Laboratory data – MBT sputum analysis
(++)

– X-ray data – focus
opacities in the upper lobe of the left lung

Treatment plan

1) Mode – ward

2) Diet – high protein

3) Isoniazid 0.6 IM

4) Rifampicin 0.45 IM

5) Pyrazinamide 2 tablets x 2 times a day

6) Ethambutol 1 tablet x 2 times a day

7) Glucose 5% 400 ml IV drip

8) Karsil 1 tablet x 3 times a day

9) Aevit 1 tablet x 3 times a day

10) Vitamins B1, B6 intramuscularly every other day

Forecast

Permanent disability, group II

Epicrisis

Patient Novozhilov G.O. was admitted to PTD No.
12 10/15/07 with diagnosis infiltrative tuberculosis upper lobe of the left lung,
MBT (+) Upon admission, he complained of a cough with difficult to separate sputum, general
weakness, increased sweating at night, inspiratory shortness of breath. Consists of
registration in the PTD since 2004 regarding newly diagnosed left tuberculosis
lung Upon objective examination
inspiratory shortness of breath and percussion box sound in the upper sections were detected
lungs, liver enlargement When performing radiography
of the chest organs, a focus of darkening was detected in the upper lobe of the left lung
IN general analysis blood – leukocytes 12 thousand/l, ESR 25 mm/h.
General urine analysis and biochemical analysis blood unchanged Sputum analysis - MBT (++) Culture
sputum for sensitivity to antibiotics - MBT are sensitive to rifampicin,
ethambutol, pyrazinamide, isoniazid. In the hospital
treatment was carried out - ward regimen, diet
high-protein, isoniazid 0.6 IM, rifampicin 0.45 IM, pyrazinamide 2 tablets x 2
times a day, ethambutol 1 tablet x 2 times a day, glucose 5% 400 ml IV drip,
Karsil 1 tablet x 3 times a day, Aevit 1 tablet x 3 times a day, vitamins B1, B6
IM every other day. During treatment in
positive dynamics are noted in the hospital - the condition has improved,
complaints decreased, examination data returned to normal. Recommendations - follow
rational daily and nutritional regimen, continue treatment

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

Darkening can mean anything, so if the radiologist issued such a conclusion, there is no need to 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 in the film.

Darkening in the lungs may be a consequence of:

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

IN medical practice this is the most common reasons the appearance of darkening. Among them there are diseases that are life-threatening to the patient and his environment.

Therefore, if a darkening is detected on fluorography, then this is always a reason to begin a more detailed examination using other diagnostic methods.

Darkening in the lungs, detected on fluorography, indicates disorders both in the lungs themselves and in adjacent areas.

The spot may be an enlarged lymph node, a formation on a rib, vertebrae, or an enlargement of the esophagus.

Shape and location of darkening

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

If the darkening is at the apex of the lung, then tuberculosis can be suspected. A spot with blurred boundaries indicates pneumonia, especially if the person being examined is weak or has a high fever.

But in some cases, pneumonia occurs without fever. Certain geometric shape spots can tell the doctor that the patient has a pulmonary infarction or hemorrhage.

Lungs of a smoker on fluorography

People who smoke are at risk for pulmonary diseases. Over a year of smoking, approximately a glass of toxic resins deposits on the tissue of this organ.

Smokers, more than others, need an annual fluorographic examination.

Changes in the lung tissue of 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 that have arisen as a result of this bad habit.

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

X-ray shows 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; the pattern of blood vessels can be clearly distinguished. The lungs of a smoker are covered with dark spots.

What might darkening look like in a photo?

Dark spots in the lungs can be of different sizes and shapes, located in any place of the lung. The following classification of blackouts is accepted.

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

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

Focal darkening, accompanied by high temperature, general weakness, cough, may indicate focal tuberculosis - specialized tests are prescribed to identify it.

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

It will be necessary to pass laboratory research: donate sputum, blood, urine.

Focal darkening also appears in such a rare disease as pulmonary infarction, in which hemoptysis is possible.

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

Round dark spots of the lungs are round-shaped single spots, the diameter of which is more than a centimeter. These spots on the image can indicate either an inflammatory process or the presence of tumors (both benign and malignant).

It is for this reason that if there are round-shaped shadows in the image, the doctor will definitely prescribe additional procedures.

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

The causes of segmental opacification of the lung or lungs are endobronchial tumor, the presence of a 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 and do not have the correct geometric shape.

They most often talk about staphylococcal or common pneumonia. Staphylococcal pneumonia has a primary and secondary form.
Photo:

The primary appears as a result of inflammatory processes in the tissues, the secondary - when purulent focus into the body (this can happen with osteomyelitis, adnexitis).

Staphylococcal pneumonia has recently become more common than usual.

Also, darkening in an indefinite form may indicate exudative pleurisy. In all these cases the patient will have elevated temperature, cough, weakness.

Darkening of the lung lobe on fluorography is when the affected lobe is clearly visible on the image and has clear contours.

Darkening of the lung lobe is a sign of any “chronicity” in the lungs: cirrhosis, purulent lesions, bronchiectasis.

Darkening with liquid on fluorography indicates pulmonary edema, which occurs during ischemia, poisoning with certain toxins, and vascular diseases.

If, after visiting the fluorography office, they gave you a stamp and sent you home in peace, this means that no pathology was found, since otherwise the office employee is obliged to notify the patient or his local doctor about the need for an in-depth examination.

Interpretation of fluorogram and other methods

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

Comments on a photo may contain the following information:

• enlarged roots - indicates bronchitis, pneumonia;
• stringy roots - pathological changes due to smoking, bronchitis;
• in-depth drawing of blood vessels - indicates poor 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 suffered diseases, operations, injuries;
• focal shadows are actual shadows. 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 healthy body enclosed the stick in a calcium “shell” and no further spread of the infection occurred;
• changes in the diaphragm - consequences of obesity, pleurisy, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• sine - in healthy lungs pleural folds form air cavities; in patients, these cavities are filled with fluid or are in a stuck together state.

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

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

Diaskintest is a method for diagnosing tuberculosis. Unlike the Mantoux test, which very often shows wrong result, Diaskintest does not react to BCG and makes it possible to diagnose tuberculosis much more accurately.

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

Computed tomography of the lungs is an additional but informative method for diagnosing diseases of the lung tissue, pleura and mediastinum.

Diagnostic bronchoscopy of the lungs or tracheobronchoscopy - is 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 you not only to see the lungs, but also to collect material (this is absolutely painless).

The material is subsequently subjected to histological, cytological, and bacterial examination.

A blood test for tumor markers is an auxiliary method for diagnosing cancer; it allows one to identify specific proteins in the blood 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 interpreting fluorography, there are errors, but the method itself cannot be called ineffective. With the help of fluorography, such dangerous diseases as tuberculosis and lung cancer are diagnosed.

This is a quick and inexpensive method 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 begin to treat the patient in a timely manner.

Timely detection of any pathological process affects the effectiveness of ongoing therapeutic measures. In this regard, currently medical institutions(both public and private) put forward requirements for the patient to undergo a mandatory annual examination. One of these diagnostic procedures is fluorography - it is carried out to detect tuberculosis and lung cancer.

Early diagnosis of these diseases increases the likelihood of a positive outcome of treatment. Even in the conditions of the modern medical industry, X-ray examination of the chest organs is considered a simple and informative technique. To identify pulmonary pathology, fluorography is most often used - a screening and publicly available method.

Sometimes the test result contains information that a spot was found on the lungs. This causes concern for a qualified specialist and particular concern for the patient himself. The first question he asks the attending physician: “What is this phenomenon and what is its cause?”

There are many reasons that cause darkening in the lungs on fluorography. In this article, we will provide detailed information about what a standard fluorography image looks like, what factors provoke the appearance of dark or white spots on it, and also help our readers understand the situation of detecting darkening on the lungs.

X-ray imaging features

An X-ray image is a negative image of the object under study on a special film, obtained using ionizing radiation, which has the ability to penetrate various tissues and biological media human body. A classic fluorography image reflects the reverse correspondence of shadows: light areas indicate the state of organs with the most dense structure, dark areas indicate tissues with a minimum density that easily transmit x-rays.

When studying, the radiologist relies on strict adherence to standards - in the image of healthy lungs right part looks wide and short, the left one looks narrow. Both areas must contain a large volume of air, not interfere with the passage of X-rays, and appear transparent on a fluorographic image.

Reasons for dimming

The origin of this phenomenon may be different; an accurate interpretation can only be given by qualified specialist. However, nevertheless, I would like to highlight the main factors causing dark areas in the image:

• focus of active infection caused by Koch's bacillus (the causative agent of tuberculosis);
• structural changes in lung tissue due to an infectious-inflammatory process or traumatic injury;
• consequences addiction– smoking;
• filling of the pleural sinus with pathological fluid (effusion);
• respiratory system diseases;
• tumor-like formations;
• presence of a foreign object in the lungs;
• purulent-destructive limited process (abscess pneumonia).

The value of the darkening depends on its location - on the left or right lung, in the upper or lower part of it; to establish the exact causes of the spot, consultation with a qualified medical specialist is necessary

Digital codes for describing fluorogram data

Today, many clinical diagnostic centers most often use a safer and more effective x-ray method - digital fluorography. Compared to the analogue method, it has more best quality images and has a lower radiation dose. Its result indicates a code with an encrypted specific pathological process.

Types of shading

If fluorography shows the presence of a dark spot on the projection of the lungs, this does not necessarily mean that the patient is suffering from a tuberculosis infection or oncological process. Although, of course, darkening on fluorography may indicate the presence of a serious disease. That is why, before making a final diagnosis, the attending physician carefully examines the shape and external differences of dark spots in the lungs on an x-ray.

They are usually classified according to several main types:

• Focal - the presence of small spots, no more than 1 cm in diameter. Characteristic for inflammatory reactions, formation of tumor-like formations, disturbances in the condition of blood vessels. Patients complain about headache, weakness, feeling of tightness in the chest, fever, poor appetite, intense cough.
• Segmental - the spot has a certain (most often triangular) shape; they can be single or numerous. The presence of a single segmental shadow is observed with a benign or malignant endobronchial neoplasm, a foreign body in the lung, mechanical damage parenchyma. Several segmental darkening is characteristic of pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchial stenosis, pleural effusion.
• Focus – highly visible pathological formations clear outline different shapes. Points to chronic stage pulmonary disease.
• Lobar – characterizes purulent formations in the lung tissue, bronchiectasis, cirrhosis of the lungs.
• Indeterminate - a noticeable blurry dark spot of unknown shape and size. Most often caused by the proliferation of staphylococci, which provoke pneumonia - a very common primary or secondary inflammatory disease of bronchial or pulmonary tissues. Patients complain about high temperature, headache, general weakness, malaise. In some cases, a dark spot indeterminate form observed when pulmonary infarction, tumor formation, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, hemorrhage.
• With the presence of fluid accumulation - evidence pulmonary edema. The occurrence of this pathological condition is characteristic of an increase in pressure in the pulmonary vessels or a decrease in the concentration of protein cells in the blood. Due to effusion, the lungs cannot fully perform their function.

Long-term smoking provokes the occurrence of infiltration syndrome - excessive penetration and accumulation of fluid containing various chemical and biological substances in the alveoli. active substances, cellular elements

Pulmonary edema is divided into two types: hydrostatic, caused by an increase in pressure in the blood vessels(observed in pathologies of cardio-vascular system), and membranous, caused by damage to the lung tissue by toxic substances that penetrated the bloodstream.

What to do?

The most correct decision when a spot on the lung is detected on fluorography is not to panic! To accurately diagnose the disease and conduct rational treatment, the patient is prescribed a set of diagnostic procedures, consisting of:

• from general clinical and biochemical research blood and urine;
• fluoroscopy in direct and lateral projection;
• tuberculin test - Diaskin test;
• bacteriological culture of sputum;
• broncho- or tracheoscopy – endoscopic examination of the respiratory organs;
• computed tomography of the lungs.

At the end of the above information, I would like to add that there may be errors when interpreting the results of fluorography. However, she herself diagnostic technique cannot be considered ineffective. With this quick and inexpensive way, which is used for medical examination of the population, practitioners successfully identify many severe pathological processes and begin treatment in a timely manner.

Traditional radiographic examination, which still plays an indispensable role in medicine. Diagnosis is used as the first imaging test in inpatients and is part of the investigation before surgery. Thanks to simple x-ray image a vast amount of information is obtained and the first signs of tuberculosis are revealed.

When detected in the picture dark spot in the lung area, the presence of increased airiness in the tissues of the organ is suspected. The dark spot can be either widespread or limited, oblong in shape, rounded or similar to a triangle.

A dark, rounded spot on the lung is often the cause of an Echinococcus cyst (the causative agent is a helminth of the cyclophyllide order). The formation shows a clear white outline formed by a cystic tumor.

A rounded darkening, on the sides of which there is complete clearing, is diagnosed as emphysema. The disease is characterized by pathological expansion of the space of the distal bronchioles.

Also, dark spots may indicate the presence of alveolar cysts. Education is limited to a few ribs.

Causes of spots on lung x-rays

There are many reasons for the appearance of dark spots, for example, serious pathological processes or residual effects after treatment of bronchitis.

Extensive darkening and spots in the lungs on x-ray, exceeding a diameter of 1.5 cm, are a consequence of tuberculosis, pneumonia, pleurisy or pulmonary edema. In addition, such spots indicate the presence of a foreign object, which is more common in young children.

Darkening can appear after pneumonia and persists for more than one year, which is not regarded as a pathology, but is perceived as a residual phenomenon.

Pericardial cyst. Changes in the right cardiophrenic angle

What is the seriousness of darkening or brightening?

It is difficult to answer unequivocally only based on an x-ray image whether such enlightenment is dangerous. To assess the situation, you will need to take additional tests and analyzes and consider the patient’s condition.

X-ray is an auxiliary diagnostic method designed to supplement information about the condition of the patient’s tissues and organs. If you look closely, there is no “diagnosis” in the X-ray description report; instead, there is a “conclusion.” Only a specialized specialist can make a diagnosis based on the diagnostic results, as well as answer the question about the danger of such darkening during fluorography.

What causes spots in the lungs?

White (dark) spots appear in the background pathological processes or are characterized as residual effects after therapy for respiratory diseases.

Darkening of the lungs causes compaction of the organ tissue during the inflammatory process or the growth of neoplasms, atypical and benign. In addition, darkening and similar phenomena in the image are interpreted as:

• the presence of cystic formations and abscesses;
• collapse of the alveoli with atelectasis;
• tuberculosis damage to lung tissue;
• accumulation of secretions in the pleural cavity;
• neoplasms localized in the ribs and segments of the spine;
• development of tumor processes in the mediastinum;
• enlarged nodes of the lymphatic system;
• pathologies of the upper digestive tract;
• fatty benign tumor in the costal sinuses.

Types of darkening for different types of disease

When there is close collaboration between the doctor who ordered the chest x-ray and the radiologist, the examination makes it easier to make the correct diagnosis and further treatment.

The formation of morphological elements on the surface of the lungs during radiography may indicate the presence of certain pathologies.

Tuberculosis

Extensive damage to the upper parts of the lung occurs. The image clearly shows multiple dark spots up to 2 mm in size. Some of them merge, forming extensive foci.

Pneumonia

The disease is characterized by the appearance dark circles in the lower sections lung tissue. As the pathology develops, the lesions become distinct, the pulmonary pattern changes, and shadows of different diameters appear.

Malignant formation

Determine tumor formation on initial stages development using x-rays is almost impossible. Tumors smaller than 2 mm are extremely difficult to differentiate. A medical opinion will be made when the tumor reaches 3 mm.

In the picture cancer tumor is a shadow without a clear outline, against which White spot, indicating the collapse of education.

Pleurisy (inflammation of the pleural layers)

The disease is characterized by darkening that does not have clear geometric contours. In addition, there is an accumulation of secretions in the pleural cavity.

Smoker's shot

Darkening on an x-ray does not always indicate a disease. Stains often occur as a result of prolonged smoking. The appearance of darkening is associated with an increase pulmonary vessels during the development of respiratory failure.

Foreign object

The reason for the appearance of light elements is often the presence of a foreign object. This is often diagnosed in children who swallow small objects and parts from toys. Foreign object is visualized as a spot with a fuzzy outline, however, a qualified radiologist will be able to tell about this.

In addition, the artifact turns out to be acute helminthiasis, where the foreign bodies are helminths.

What should a patient do if elements in the form of darkening are detected on an x-ray? The right decision will not panic or try to self-medicate. Darkening or clearing should not be treated until the full examination. The pathogenesis of the spots is extensive and may require detailed study. For this reason, it is not recommended to diagnose yourself; you should contact a specialized specialist with the diagnostic results.

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