Initial evaluation and Testing Patients with<unk>  may have difficulty breathing and/or a cough which may be productive of sputum or blood. A physician will listen to the patient’s lungs to help determine if there is likely a lower lung<unk> . Depending on the type of<unk> , the listener may hear “crackles” that indicate an excess of fluid in the lungs or an absence of lung sounds in certain regions which may indicate poor ventilation due to consolidation of pus or fibrosis. A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen available in the blood. This is an important measurement in evaluation of a patient with difficulty breathing with suspected<unk> . Imaging Chest x-ray is the initial imaging modality of choice for evaluation of potential<unk> . Bedside ultrasound may also be utilized. The absence of radiographic evidence early on in the course of<unk>  does not exclude<unk><unk> .<unk><unk>  is visible on chest radiography as small, ill-defined nodules of homogeneous density centered on the acini or bronchioles. The nodules coalesce early in the course of<unk> , such that the nodules may only be seen as soft fluffy edges in the periphery. When the nodules are centered on the hilar regions, the chest x-ray may develop what is called the "butterfly," or "batwing" appearance. The nodules may also have a segmental or lobar distribution. Air alveolograms and air bronchograms can also be seen which indicate fluid in the alveoli with air in the terminal bronchioles indicating<unk>  is<unk> . These findings appear soon after the onset of symptoms and change rapidly thereafter. A segmental or lobar pattern may be apparent after aspiration pneumonia, atelectasis, lung contusion, localized pulmonary edema, obstructive pneumonia, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism with infarction, or tuberculosis.
Alveolar lung disease
Viral pneumonia
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Chemical pneumonitis
Radiation-induced lung injury
Rheumatoid lung disease
Lobar pneumonia
Alcoholic lung disease