Pulmonary edema – X-ray chest PA view

Pulmonary edema – X-ray chest PA view

Hazy appearance of the lung fields is due to pulmonary edema secondary to acute left ventricular failure. Overall it appears like an under penetrated film. Usually the opacities in pulmonary edema are more towards the hilum, peripheries being relatively clearer. That pattern is known as hilar haze and bat wing appearance. Here almost whole of the lung fields are hazy, though more in the lower zones. It is not a well positioned X-ray, which is expected in a sick person with pulmonary edema.

The X-ray taken after treatment shows clearance of pulmonary edema. When the cardiac size is normal (as in this case), the possibilities to be thought of are acute left ventricular failure in acute myocardial infarction when the heart has not had enough time to get enlarged and acute fulminant myocarditis.