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Disseminated nodular and miliary lesions of the lung

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Abstract

The recognition of distinct shadow patters has evolved as a useful tool for the interpretation of chest roentgenograms revealing bilateral, disseminated lung disease. Among other signs lesions with fluffy margins, early coalescence, and air bronchograms characterize the acinar pattern which is indicative of lung diseases involving the peripheral air spaces. Reticular, reticulonodular, or miliary densities as elements of the interstitial pattern are indicative of diseases which predominantly involve the interstitital tissue. The analysis of pattern is not diagnostic, but often helps to reduce the long differential diagnostic list.

Zusammenfassung

Die Interpretation von Toraxaufnahmen bei bilateralen, disseminierten Lungenerkrankungen kann durch die Abgrenzung von verschiedenen Verschattungsmustern verbessert werden. Fleckschatten mit unscharfer Begrenzung und Neigung zur Konfluation, Luftbronchogramme und weitere Zeichen charakterisieren das azinäre Muster, welches auf eine Einbeziehung der peripheren Lufträume in den Krankheitsprozeß hinweist. Retikuläre, retikulonoduläre und miliare Verschattungen sind Elemente des interstitiellen Musters, welches für Erkrankungen mit weitgehender Beschränkung auf das interstitielle Gewebe spricht. Die Analyse der Verschattungsmuster ist nicht diagnostisch, hilft aber häufig, die differentialdiagnostischen Erwägungen ganz erheblich einzuengen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pneumology, Department of Internal Medicine and the Institut of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Berne, Inselspital, Berne

    H. Bachofen & E. Voegeli

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  1. H. Bachofen
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  2. E. Voegeli
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Bachofen, H., Voegeli, E. Disseminated nodular and miliary lesions of the lung. Pneumologie 153, 249–260 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02095366

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02095366

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