April 2014 Imaging Case of the Month

Eric A. Jensen, MD

Michael B. Gotway, MD

Department of Radiology

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ 

Clinical History: A 34-year-old woman presented with complaints of abdominal fullness. The patient described a history of several pneumonias, successfully treated with antibiotics. Liver function testing showed a mild transaminitis. Frontal chest radiography (Figure 1) was performed.

Figure 1. Frontal chest radiograph. 

Which of the following statements regarding the chest radiograph is most accurate? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the next panel) 

1. The chest radiograph shows multifocal coarse linear opacities suggesting bronchiectasis
2. The chest radiograph shows multifocal ground-glass opacity and consolidation
3. The chest radiograph shows multifocal, somewhat basal predominant linear opacities within diminished lung volumes, suggesting fibrosis
4. The chest radiograph shows multiple small nodules, suggesting a miliary pattern
5. The chest radiograph shows symmetric, basal predominant fine linear and reticular abnormalities without architectural distortion

Reference as: Jensen EA, Gotway MB. April 2014 imaging case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2014;8(4):213-20. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc037-14 PDF