Bronchitis chest x ray

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]

Bronchitis Main page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Acute bronchitis Chronic bronchitis
Differential Diagnosis

Overview

Chest x ray findings are normal in patients with acute bronchitis and thus, chest radiography is not routinely recommended.
The classic signs of chronic bronchitis are overexpanded lung (hyperinflation), a flattened diaphragm, increased retrosternal airspace, and occasionally,bullae. It can be useful to help exclude other lung diseases, such as pneumonia, pulmonary edema or a pneumothorax.

Chest x ray

Acute bronchitis

Normal view of the lungs is the most common finding. Chest x ray may be ordered in specific situations, for example:

1. If pneumonia is suspected,

2. If cough lasts for more than 3 weeks,

3. In high-risk patients, such as those at the extremes of age or those with COPD, recent pneumonia, malignancy, congestive heart failure, tuberculosis, or immunocompromised or debilitated status to rule out Pneumonia,

4. Abnormal vital signs (pulse >100/minute, respiratory rate >24 breaths/minute, or temperature >38°C),

5. Rales or signs of consolidation on chest examination.

Chronic Bronchitis

• Increased bronchovascular markings
• Cardiomegaly
• Right ventricular enlargement, prominent hilar vascular shadows, opacity in retrosternal air spaces (pulmonary hypertension)