Condition Specific Radiology: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to covering how the condition acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) will appear on different types of radiological imaging studies. 

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS

ARDS is fundamentally characterized by the following:

  • Diffuse, bilateral consolidations
CHEST X-RAY

Here are features that can be appreciated on a chest X-Ray:

  • Diffuse bilateral opacities: often described as “ground glass” opacities 
  • Air bronchograms can be appreciated sometimes (often at later stages of the disease) 
CHEST COMPUTIRIZED TOMOGRAPHY (CT-SCAN)

 

MAGNETIC REASONANCE IMAGING (MRI)

 

Page Updated: 03.01.2017