Pleural Empyema and Imaging Quiz

A condition where air and fluid accumulate in the pleural space, the space between the lung and the chest wall.

A straight air-fluid interface on a chest X-ray, often with mediastinal shift, is a classic sign of hydropneumothorax.

Common causes include iatrogenic events (like air introduction during pleural drainage), trauma, and post-thoracic surgery.

A condition involving pus buildup in the pleural space, often resulting from lung infections (pneumonia).

Pleural empyema progresses through stages - exudative (pus accumulation), fibrinopurulent (pus pockets), and organizing (scarring and potential lung entrapment).

Loculated pleural effusions, often appearing as pockets of fluid on ultrasound, are a common characteristic of pleural empyema.

CT scans may show large collections of fluid with thickened surrounding pleura, gas bubbles, and lung compression, indicating empyema.

Chronic empyema often exhibits calcifications on CT scans, suggesting a long-standing infection, potentially due to tuberculosis.

A type of empyema where the infection has spread from the pleural space to the chest wall, causing a mass.

A collection of blood in the pleural space.

A descriptive term for an area of increased lung density on a high-resolution CT scan (HRCT), where the bronchial and vascular markings are still visible.

A pattern seen on imaging where air-filled bronchi are visible against a background of consolidated lung tissue (filled with fluid or other material).

When air in the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs) is replaced by other material like fluid, pus, blood, or tumor cells.

A chronic condition where pus accumulates in the pleural space (the space between the lungs and the chest wall).

A condition where the lung collapses due to the presence of a fluid collection in the pleural space.

A collection of pus in the pleural space.

A collection of pus in the pleural space that has become walled off and may have calcifications.

Inflammation of the lungs that involves the alveoli and can cause ground-glass opacities on imaging.

A condition in which the air sacs in the lung are filled with fluid and pus, causing inflammation. This fluid is often visible on chest X-rays as a dense area, known as consolidation.

This is a characteristic finding on chest X-rays in a patient with pneumonic consolidation, seen as small, dark lines within the consolidated area.

This is a collection of pus that forms in a damaged part of the lung tissue, usually due to an infection.

An organism that commonly causes lung abscesses, often present in people who have weakened immune systems or aspirate foreign material into their lungs.

The most frequent way for bacteria to reach the lung, where they can cause inflammation and abscesses.

Commonly associated with lung abscesses, and often related to weakened immune systems, alcoholism or drug addiction.

A typical symptom of lung abscess, along with fever, malaise and cough.

A type of pneumonia that precedes the development of a lung abscess.

This is the period it takes for an aspiration to develop into a visible lung abscess cavity on chest x-ray.

A condition where air fills the space between the lung and chest wall, causing lung collapse.

Pneumothorax that develops without an obvious injury or underlying condition.

A dangerous form of pneumothorax where the air pressure in the chest cavity builds up, compressing the lung and heart.

Fluid buildup in the space between the lung and chest wall.

An X-ray sign of pleural effusion seen as a curved line at the bottom of the lung.

A slight amount of fluid buildup in the chest.

A significant amount of fluid buildup in the chest.

A very large amount of fluid buildup in the chest.

Fluid buildup in both sides of the chest.

A special type of scan that uses X-rays and contrast dye to create detailed images of the chest.

A condition characterized by permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles, leading to reduced lung elasticity and airflow obstruction.

A chest X-ray showing an increased volume of air in the lungs, flattened diaphragm, reduced vascular markings, and possibly large air pockets known as bullae.

A type of chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by scarring of the lung tissue, leading to reduced lung volume and difficulty breathing.

A specific type of IPF that doesn't have a clear cause, making it "idiopathic".

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans and surgical lung biopsies are used to diagnose IPF and UIP.