The structure of the lungs, as well as the air inside them, allows the use of x-rays for medical diagnosis. A fairly common problem is blackout in the lungs on an x-ray. However, you should not panic right away. This may indicate problems not with the lungs, but, for example, with any other organs that are located directly next to them. This is due to the fact that the images simply overlap each other. That is why, when a similar phenomenon is detected on an x-ray, it is necessary to delve into the understanding of what darkening in the lungs means. It is thanks to this that you can choose the right therapy and get rid of the focus of inflammation.
X-ray
On an x-ray, if taken from the front, you can see the contours of the lungs. They form special fields that intersect with edges. There is a large shadow. This is a projection of the heart and arteries superimposed on each other. In addition, you can notice a slight blackout in the lungs in the picture, which is located near 2 and 4 ribs. It speaks of a rich vasculature. Next, we consider the abnormal changes that can be seen on x-rays.
Blackout
Darkening appears in the picture in those cases when a healthy place in the lungs is affected. This is due to the fact that due to pathological changes, air is forced out. This is observed with blockage of the bronchi, the accumulation of fluid, that is, pneumonia, as well as with tumors.
Pulmonary problems
Similar problems are the most common. They occur in various types of diseases. It should be noted that several groups are considered to be such violations at once. There are blackouts in the lungs of the focal type, a roundish shadow, total or subtotal, limited.
Enlightenment
Enlightenments indicate the presence of any problems associated with a decrease in the volume and density of lung tissue. This is due to the development of a disease such as pneumothorax. It is characterized by the fact that an air cavity has arisen in the lung. On an X-ray, places that are easily visible will have a darker color, otherwise there will be a light color. It should be noted that when it comes to dimming in the lungs with x-rays, in fact it refers to a bright area in the picture.
Total dimming
If we talk about what darkening in the lungs means, it is necessary to consider the main problems. One of these is the total type of shadow. It is a partial or full coverage of the lung. Gaps can be observed either in the lower or in the upper part of the organ. The reason for this is the lack of air, an increase in tissue density, as well as the presence of fluid.
A similar phenomenon can cause cirrhosis, pleurisy and some other diseases. This also should include pneumonia.
Blackout in the lungs is diagnosed quite easily. First you need to make an assessment of the location of the organs, because sometimes some bias can be observed. The guideline is the shadow of the heart. The second sign is an assessment of the uniformity of the dimming. If it is homogeneous, then, most likely, the problem with the occurrence of atelectasis, heterogeneous - cirrhosis. After receiving the picture, the decoding of the result always depends entirely on the state of the person and directly on the characteristics of his body.
Limited dimming
Next, we consider the causes of darkening in the lungs of a limited type. In order to understand what factors led to this, it is necessary to take an x-ray in two directions. Be sure to scan the front and side. After the images are taken, it is important to pay attention to where the dimming is localized. If it is inside the pulmonary field, then, most likely, we are talking about diseases associated with the lungs. If the blackout is slightly adjacent to the diaphragm, then other diseases that are not related to this body can be diagnosed.
Another important criterion for diagnosis is size. Darkening can follow the contours of the lung, which indicates inflammation, If we are talking about cirrhosis or blockage, then its size will be less than normal. Sometimes in the latter case there are small gaps. They may appear due to the presence of fluid. That is why it is necessary to take a series of shots in different poses in order to understand how serious the condition is. If fluid is present, then a person is most likely to develop an abscess, if not, then tuberculosis. However, these diagnoses are inaccurate. For each patient, they will be set depending on the characteristics of his body and complaints.
Round shadow
Darkness in round lungs is diagnosed in cases where the shadow has an oval shape. In order to decipher the results, it is necessary to rely on several factors at once. It is about clarity, thickness, localization, shape and structure. Sometimes the shadow may not belong to the pulmonary field, so thanks to the evaluation of the form, you can get a lot of information for diagnosis. Most often, a round shape occurs with various intrapulmonary formations. It can be a cyst, a tumor, and so on. If a person has heterogeneity, it means that we are talking about cancer or tuberculosis. Clear and flat contours are inherent in the cyst. Only those that have a diameter of at least 1 centimeter are classified as round dimming. In other cases, they are called foci.
Annular shadow
Darkening in the lungs of a ring-shaped form are the simplest when it comes to diagnosis. This happens due to the fact that a person in the lungs forms a cavity in which there is air. An annular shadow is such only if the shape of the closed ring in any projection is preserved. In the event that in one of the shots there is no closed ring, then dimming is an optical illusion.
When a similar cavity is found in the lung, it is necessary to examine it in detail. Particular attention should be paid to uniformity and thickness. Tuberculosis can be suspected if a large and uniform wall thickness is visible in the picture. With an abscess, a similar picture is observed. However, the latter disease is rarely confirmed. This is due to the fact that pus through the bronchi is removed quite rarely by itself, therefore, darkening of a similar shape in the picture can not cause.
If the ring has wide walls, then a person has lung cancer. Tumor masses can cause similar effects on images. However, due to the fact that necrosis is uneven, the ring may not be perfectly even.
It is also important to pay attention to the location of this ring. The fact is that often it speaks of various diseases that are not related to the lungs.
Focal dimming
It is necessary to consider what constitutes focal dimming. Foci are considered spots that have a size greater than 1 mm and less than 1 cm. Sometimes in the picture you can see several similar formations at once, which are either next to each other, or randomly. If the distribution of foci does not exceed 2 spaces between the ribs, then this focal inflammation is limited, otherwise diffuse. In order to conduct an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to consider the contours, intensity and area over which the foci are spread. If there are similar symptoms in the upper parts of the lungs, then most likely the person will develop tuberculosis. With pneumonia, a huge number of foci will be visible in the picture. A round or ring-shaped shadow may also appear.
If we are talking about single dimming, then the doctor may suggest that this is a metastasis from a tumor or cancer. If the contours are maximally clear, then this confirms the diagnosis. Fuzzy outlines indicate the development of inflammation. In order to assess the intensity of the blackout, it is necessary to compare it with the vessels that are visible in the picture. If the severity of dimming is less, then we are talking about focal type pneumonia.